No fewer than 22 persons were on Sunday killed while many others were injured in fresh attacks in the villages of Barikin Ladi and Mangu town of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, who confirmed the latest killings, also confirmed that two persons had been killed in Mangu town according to reports.
While the killing in Mangu occurred in the evening, the second happened in the night when gunmen stormed the villages of Kak, Ranyam, Nging, Lohala and Buka of Barikin Ladi LGA, and killed about 20 residents.
The latest incident came three days after 13 persons were killed in the Rawuru community of Barikin Ladi.
There have been a series of attacks and killings recently in the state, especially in Bakin Ladi, Riyom and Mangu LGAs of the state.
Alfred said, “In Barikin Ladi, we got reports that about 15 people lost their lives yesterday and today, another five have been buried which makes the total number to be 20. In Mangu, two people were killed while one other was injured. What happened in Mangu was a problem among the citizens of the area.
“You know Plateau issue very well. It was almost about to be painted to religious or ethnic. But our men came into play and controlled the situation and restore normalcy in the area.
The command is saddened with this information. We don’t want more deaths in Plateau. We are advising people to get the phone numbers of our DPOs and feed them with information around them. Let us do well to inform the police. We want to live in peace,” he added.
The state governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, yesterday expressed sadness over the attacks.
The governor while sympathizing with the victims and their families, urged the security agencies to diligently execute their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property in the state in order to put a stop to the wanton spilling of blood and burning of property.
