Fresh violence in Nyamgo Gyel, within the Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, has claimed three lives and left one person wounded, further heightening anxieties over the crumbling security in the region.
The victims identified as 36-year-old Luka Sandu Pam, 38-year-old Samuel Davou, and 35-year-old Deme Saidu were ambushed by gunmen around 7 p.m. on Friday as they traveled home from Gero on a motorcycle.
Occurring on Good Friday, the assault has plunged the local community into a state of intense shock and grief.
Witnesses reported that the men were part of a larger group of approximately 15 young people heading back from a mining site when they were caught in the trap.
According to Dung Davou, the Gyel Youth Leader, the group was suddenly fired upon by suspected armed herdsmen, sending everyone running for their lives.
“We started hearing sporadic gunshots, and everyone scattered. Unfortunately, three of our people were killed,” he stated, while calling on the government to take immediate action against what he labeled as constant and unprovoked local attacks.
Barrister Solomon Dalyop, Chairman of the Berom Youth Moulder Association, spoke from the scene of the tragedy, mourning the deaths as a grim sign of the escalating danger across Plateau State.
Standing near the victims, he explained that the men had gone to observe the religious holiday before being struck down on their journey home.
“These young men went to mark Good Friday and were returning home when they were ambushed and killed. This is heartbreaking,” Dalyop remarked.
He revealed that local leaders had recently participated in a security summit with members of the Fulani community at the Nigerian Army’s Sector 2 Command in Jos South. During that meeting, warnings were issued regarding the movement of strangers around Gero, Rafin Bauna, and Dutsen Kura in the Miyango-Bassa region.
“We were informed about suspicious movements in these areas, and we have since cautioned our people to be vigilant, especially at night,” he noted.
However, Dalyop cautioned that the violence might escalate without rapid intervention, claiming that various armed factions have taken up residence in the wilderness areas of the state.
“If nothing serious is done, this may just be the beginning of more terror. Terrorists are taking over our bushes,” he warned, while expressing frustration over the lack of sufficient security forces on the ground.
He pointed out that only the police arrived following the shooting to transport the lone survivor to a medical facility.
Local residents are now demanding more boots on the ground and increased alertness to stop future bloodshed as they begin making funeral arrangements for the deceased.
Attempts to get an official statement from SP Alfred Alabo, the Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, were not successful as he had not returned calls by the time of publication.
This latest tragedy follows a string of violent outbursts in Plateau State, casting a shadow over the safety of its citizens and the success of current peace-keeping missions.