13 farmers killed in fresh attack on Plateau community

Thirteen people, including five teenagers, have been killed in separate attacks on Rachas village and Faan community in Hyeipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The victims were killed during an early morning attack on Tuesday while residents were sleeping, as gunmen stormed the communities, shooting sporadically.

Brigadier General Shippi Gakji (rtd), Special Adviser on security to Governor Caleb Mutfwang and commander of Operation Rainbow – a security outfit in the state, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Wednesday.

Shippi, who condemned the attacks, said, “I visited the attacked communities. I was at the burial ground of the victims. It was very sad. 13 people were killed in the incident.

“The government is working around the clock to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

The security adviser called on residents of the state to remain calm, assuring that justice would be served to the victims.

The chairman of Barkin Ladi LGA, Stephen Gyang Pwajok, who confirmed the incident and visited the village, condemned it, describing it as barbaric.

He urged security agencies to strengthen their efforts to track down the perpetrators, calling on them to always respond promptly to distress calls to avert such incidents.

New reported that the Fact-finding Committee on violence in the state, set up by Governor Mutfwang, which recently presented its report, disclosed that more than 11,000 lives have been lost to violent attacks across Plateau State since 2001.