Tension has taken over Rachas Village in Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. This comes after gunmen killed an 18-year-old vigilante member, Divine Dung Davou, during a midnight attack.
The attack happened at about 12:30 am on Tuesday. It has left the community in mourning and raised fears about safety in rural areas.
Rwang Tengwong, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, confirmed the killing in a statement on Tuesday.
He said, “According to information available to the Association, Divine, who was a vigilante member of the community, was killed at about 12:30 am during a midnight attack by armed men.”
Tengwong mentioned that the killing has devastated Divine’s family and the entire Rachas community.
Residents who talked about the incident described Divine as a dedicated youth who volunteered to protect his community. A community leader in Rachas, who did not want to be named, said, “We are heartbroken. Divine was just 18 years old. He joined the vigilante to protect our village because we have no security presence here at night.
“Now he has been killed while trying to protect us. The government should not abandon us.”
Another resident, Mrs Mary Chollom, expressed her fears about safety returning to the village.
“We could not sleep last night. The gunshots were too much. We are mostly farmers, and we live in fear.
“If our vigilante who protects us is killed like this, who will protect us? We are calling on the government to deploy security personnel to this area,” she said.
A youth in the community, Mr Dalyop Gyang, also called for justice.
“Divine was our brother and a brave young man. He did not deserve to die this way. We want the killers to be arrested, and we want stronger security patrols. We cannot continue to lose our youths to gunmen,” he said.
In its reaction, the BYM has called for urgent security intervention. Tengwong said, “BYM calls on the Plateau State Police Command and other security agencies to urgently investigate the killing, apprehend the perpetrators and strengthen security patrols, intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanisms in vulnerable communities.”
He added, “We urge the Plateau State and Federal Governments to move beyond routine assurances and implement concrete, sustained measures to protect lives and property, particularly in communities repeatedly exposed to attacks.”
He also said, “BYM extends its condolences to the bereaved family and the people of Rachas, while appealing for urgent action to prevent further loss of lives.”
Attempts to reach the Plateau State Police Command for a response were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
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