Suspected armed herdsmen have again wrecked havoc in Plateau State in a fresh attack that sacked seven communities in Mangu Local Government Area of the state.
The latest attack left 15 people dead while several others were critically injured and are currently receiving medical attention at the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) Hospital, Mwar-Chakfem.
According to reports, some of the villages sacked by the armed attackers include, Manden, Join, Jiblang, Koppang, Mihdihin, and Jilem. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers burnt down houses and looted farm produce and many animals in the villages, while over 3000 people were said to have fled the villages and now taking shelter in neighbouring local governments.
Confirming the incident, the National President of Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Mr. Bulus Dabit, told journalists that information about the attack was delayed due to the difficulty encountered in accessing the affected communities.
The MDA leader revealed that the most affected by the attack were women, children and the elderly.
Dabit said that the attack took place on Monday evening between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., when many residents were already asleep, adding that the assailants burnt down several houses, including the traditional ruler’s residence and his official vehicle.
Lamenting the inability of security operatives to access the remote villages, he called on the government to deploy more security to the areas as the only way of containing the escalating violence.
He explaining the situation, he said that “After the attack, we were not able to get to the villages because of the nature of the terrain.”
He stated that Chakfem district shares boundaries with Quanpan LGA and parts of Nasarawa State, providing the attackers with different entry points into the communities, saying that they (attackers) were able to carry out their heinous act without any obstacle.
