Plateau communities thrown into fear amid fresh killing of 50 residents

Communities and villages in Plateau State have been thrown into palpable fear following the killing of 50 residents of Zurak and Bankalala in Bashar District of Wase Local Government Council.

Reports said, vigilantes and local security were among those injured and killed by gunmen.

The gunmen were said to have stormed the affected communities on Monday when residents were going about their normal businesses, but find it difficult to report due to communication network.

Earlier, the death toll was put at 40, but last night, it increased to 50.

Alhaji Ahmed Lawal, a traditional ruler in Wase, said the death toll had risen to 50 persons, adding that the victims had since been buried in the area according to Muslim rites.

Sahpi’i Sambo, a youth leader in the area, who also confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said the bandits arrived at the community on motorcycles – two to a bike – armed with sophisticated weapons and started shooting sporadically at everyone on sight.

He said, “More than 40 people were killed while many others were injured. Residents of the village have fled to neighbouring communities, adding that security personnel had not yet arrived at the community as at Tuesday. It was a deadly attack,” Sambo said.

The information officer of Wase local government area, Daniel Manwan, said from the information made available to him, over 30 people were killed in Bankalala village while operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) pursued and killed three of the bandits at Zurak village.

“As I speak to you the entire villages are deserted for fear of the unknown,” he said.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, was yet to respond to the inquiry by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.