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A community leader in Barkin-Ladi, Agwom Mazat, and seven others in Mangu and Riyom councils of Plateau State have been killed in attacks by gunmem.
The gunmen were said to have struck at the early hours of yesterday.
The armed men, it was gathered, shot Mazat while he was working at his farm alongside his kinsmen.
A source who pleased anonymity said: “The community leader Agwom Mazat was killed in his farm today (yesterday) at about 8:35am. The gunmen shot him at close range and made sure he died before they escaped. “He was the only one killed while other people working with him in the farm escaped unhurt.
“The entire Mazat has been thrown into mourning, the attack on him was a big shock to us, we want to believe that the militias have been trailing him and the community before they struck.”
The rampaging gunmen were said to have attacked Sohon Kareng community, Kareng District in Mangu around 7:40pm on Monday. Sources said they held the community hostage for over 30 minutes shooting and destroying properties.
A witness claimed that five persons were killed in the attack including a couple, adding that the militias also set houses ablaze, destroyed farms before fleeing.
The gunmen, it was gathered, invaded the community through the Swan Water Bottling Company, Kerang, and were armed with sophisticated weapons.
Another source said the militias stormed the community around 5pm shooting sporadic, claiming that they were in the village between 5pm and 8pm.
A community leader, Joshua Michael confirmed to The Nation that five people including a man and wife were killed by the terrorists between 5pm and 8pm on Monday.
He said the victims were killed at different points by the gunmen before they escaped.
The marauders equally invaded Wereng Camp and Wereng in Riyom local government area of the state, where two people were killed on their farms.
It was gathered that the attackers raided the two communities simultaneously and killed the two people identified as Chuwang and Amos Dung, while 18 others were injured.
According to the community leader, the victims were given mass burial yesterday morning.
Spokesman for Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo said: “We are doing something. We have raided their hideouts, those places pointed to us. At least, we are seeing results. Now, it’s a bit calm, compared to what you know before. The command is doing something, as I speak, the CP is talking to his management team.”
Peoplesmind
