Some gunmen have again attacked two villages in Plateau State, killing at least 20 persons.
The killings, it was gathered, occurred on Monday around 9pm.
The affected villages are Kubwat and Fungzai in the Mangu Local Government Area of the state.
A resident of Fungzai community, John Yakubu, who witnessed the attacks, told on Tuesday that in Fungzai community alone, the gunmen killed 15 persons, including the wife of his younger brother and her children, while a total of 29 corpses had been recovered.
Yakubu said, “It was last night; the gunmen arrived in large numbers and started shooting. The panicky villagers started running but unknown to them,other gunmen laid ambush and shot at those trying to runaway. As I’m talking to you, I am in Fungzai village. The attackers killed 15 persons here(Fungzai) including the wife and children of my younger brother last night.
“They also attacked Kubwat, a neighbouring village. So far, we have recovered a total of 29 corpses, including women and children. We are in pains.”
Efforts to get the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, to react proved abortive, as he neither picked his calls nor responded to a text message sent to his telephone.
But Governor Simon Lalong, in a statement on Tuesday, expressed worry over the attacks.
In the statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut, Lalong said he “woke up on Tuesday to the distressing news of an overnight attack on Kubat Village in Mangu Local Government where some persons, including women and children, were reportedly killed.
“Governor Lalong, who is seriously disturbed about the sad development, has immediately directed security forces to pursue the attackers and ensure they are arrested.
“He describes this as yet another attempt by crises merchants and criminals to return the state to the dark days of pain and agony, vowing that the government would stop at nothing to ensure that those behind this scheme are dealt with mercilessly.
“While condemning the act, the governor commiserates with the victims, assuring that the murderers would not be allowed to go unpunished as this is an act that can neither be tolerated nor excused no matter the motivation.
“The governor has equally directed the State Emergency Management Agency and the Peace Building Agency to visit the area and ascertain the humanitarian needs so as to bring succour to the affected while thorough investigation is being carried out.”
Similarly, the governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang, expressed shock over the bloody attack by gunmen.
Mutfwang, in a statement on Tuesday by his media aide,Gyang Bere, appealed to security agencies to rise up to their constitutional responsibility of protecting and securing citizens, particularly the rural dwellers.
“The governor-elect, who is heartbroken over the renewed attacks, urged security agencies to collaborate within the ambit of the law and apprehend the perpetrators to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement said.
