Five killed in Plateau village attack

The police have confirmed that five people died and several others got hurt in an attack in Gwan-Ajang, a village in Foron District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Alfred Alabo, the police public relations officer for the state command, said the attack happened on Sunday night. Gunmen opened fire on residents who gathered for a social event.

In a statement obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Alabo said officers from the Gindiri Division got a distress call around 9:22 p.m. and rushed to the community.

"When our officers arrived, they found a grim scene with some people lying in pools of blood. Five victims were confirmed dead, while more than 10 others suffered various injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment," he said.

He explained that the attack occurred during a social gathering. The village's location, near the boundary between Barkin Ladi and Mangu local government areas, caused some confusion about where the incident took place.

"The area is sometimes reported as either Barkin Ladi or Mangu, depending on who is giving the information," the police spokesperson noted.

Mr Alabo said the Commissioner of Police has ordered more operations in the area. The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations is coordinating the response.

He added that the police are working with other security agencies, including Operation Enduring Peace, to restore calm and find those responsible.

"Our men are on the ground. Joint patrols and surveillance have increased, and we have good information that will help us make arrests," he said. He mentioned that things have mostly returned to normal in the area.

However, the Berom Youths Moulder-Association disagreed with the police's casualty number, claiming that at least seven people were killed in the attack.

Rwang Tengwong, the National Publicity Secretary of the group, said the victims were shot when armed men invaded the village around 9:30 p.m.

The group also claimed that more than 10 people were seriously injured and are getting treated in hospitals.

Police authorities said investigations are ongoing and urged residents to stay calm. They asked the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could help catch the attackers.

This attack is the latest in a series of violent events in parts of Plateau State, especially in Barkin Ladi and nearby local government areas, even with ongoing security operations.