Plateau Residents in fear As Gunmen Kill 50
Communities in Plateau State are in palpable fear after unknown men suspected to be bandits attacked Zurak and Bankalala villages in Bashar
District of Wase local government area of Plateau State, killing more than 50 residents, including vigilantes, and injuring others in the process.
Investigation has revealed that several houses were burnt by the rampaging gunmen.
The residents of the community said the incident occurred on Monday at about 7pm when people in the community were
going about their normal activities, but that they could not reach out for help as a result of the poor
Alhaji Ahmed Lawal, traditional ruler in Wase, revealed that the death toll had risen to 50 persons, adding that the victims had since been buried in the area according to Muslim rites.
Sahpi’i Sambo, a youth leader in the area confirmed the incident to our correspondent, saying that the bandits arrived at the
community on motorcycles – two to a bike – armed with sophisticated weapons and started shooting sporadically at everyone on sight.
According to him, “More than 40 people were killed while many others were injured. Residents of the village have fled to
neighbouring communities. As of yesterday, security personnel had not yet arrived at the community. It was a deadly attack.
Also confirming the attack was the information officer of Wase local government area, Daniel Manwan, who said from the
information made available to him, over 30 people were killed in Bankalala village while operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) pursued and killed three of the bandits at Zurak village.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, was yet to respond to the inquiry as of the time of
filing this report. Also, the state government is yet speak on the incident as of the time of filing the report.
