Plateau State is notorious for violent attacks by bandits and armed militia
At least six people have been killed and several others injured in fresh attacks on communities in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, less than 24 hours after reported assaults on herders and their livestock in the area.
The latest incident adds to a growing cycle of violence that has plagued parts of Mangu in recent weeks, with security concerns mounting over what authorities describe as recurring attacks and reprisals involving local militia groups and pastoral communities.
Security sources according to a report by a security expert, ZagaZola Makama, disclosed that troops of Sector 8, Sub-Sector 81, operating under Operation Enduring Peace, were deployed at about 9:15 p.m. on Saturday following reports of gunfire around Gwamajang village.
Upon arriving at the scene, soldiers discovered that gunmen had attacked a group of women who were processing harvested groundnuts in the community. The assailants reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, killing six people and leaving several others with gunshot injuries.
The wounded were evacuated to a nearby medical facility for treatment, while security personnel launched an immediate operation to track down those responsible for the attack.
In a separate incident less than an hour later, troops responded to another distress call from Tukur village in the Kinat community of Mangu Halle District.
According to security sources, the attackers had already killed three persons before fleeing the area upon sighting the advancing troops. Security forces subsequently established blocking positions along routes leading to Aloghom and intensified search operations across nearby communities in a bid to intercept the fleeing suspects.
The fresh violence has heightened fears of further reprisals in Mangu, where tensions have remained high following recent reports of attacks on herders, loss of livestock and allegations of militia-related assaults.
Security agencies are continuing operations in the affected areas as efforts intensify to prevent further bloodshed and restore calm to the troubled communities.
ZagaZola Makama
