Gunmen kill farmer, injure pastor in Plateau raid

Gunmen have killed a 36-year-old farmer and injured a pastor in an attack on a farm in Lamor community, Pushit District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. Another man, a 57-year-old, has been reported missing after the incident.

The attack happened on Wednesday afternoon. A community youth leader, Bulus Nehemiah, confirmed this.

Mr Nehemiah named the deceased as Steven Bala and the injured pastor as Apollos Charly, who owns the farm where the attack took place.

He added that a 57-year-old man, Danbaba Libet, is missing following the attack.

“During the attack on Pastor Apollos Charly’s farm, Steven Bala, aged 36, was killed by the gunmen. The pastor himself was injured, while another man, Mr Danbaba Libet, aged 57, is still missing,” Mr Nehemiah said.

He claimed that armed men suspected to be part of a militia have attacked communities in Pushit District many times in recent weeks. They have disrupted farming activities during the harvest season.

“In the past few weeks, the gunmen have been terrorising our communities in Pushit, attacking and killing our people. They have prevented us from going to our farms, especially now that it is harvest season,” he said.

Another community leader, John Sabo, condemned the attack. He called on security agencies to investigate the incident and catch those responsible. He also urged for stronger security in the area.

“We condemn this senseless attack in the strongest terms. No community should be subjected to this kind of violence, and innocent people should not continue to lose their lives,” Mr Sabo said.

He asked security operatives to increase their presence in the affected communities to stop further attacks and reassure residents of their safety.

Attempts to confirm details from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful. The police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls or texts sent to his phone.

This recent attack raises more security concerns in parts of Mangu Local Government Area. Community members are worried about violence and limited access to farmland.