Eleven persons were shot dead on Sunday night by suspected herdsmen in Lopandet Dwei, Doi community, in Rayfield, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. The gunmen, who were said to have come in a Hilux van, shot at residents, killing 11, while many others suffered injuries.
Police public relations officer in the state, Matthias Tyopev, confirmed the killings. He said that those injured were receiving treatment at Jos University Teaching and Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos.
He said: “On September 2, 2018, at about 2030hrs, the Plateau State Police Command, Jos, received a distress call to the effect that unknown gunmen attacked Lopandet Dwei Du area of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The command immediately mobilised to the scene of the crime. On arrival, we discovered that some people were shot. The victims were immediately rushed to Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Specialist Hospital.
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“As a result of the attack, 11 persons have been confirmed dead by doctors from both hospitals mentioned above, while 12 persons were wounded and are now on admission receiving treatment. More security personnel have been deployed to the area to prevent further attacks on the community.
Meanwhile, an investigation into the crime is ongoing.”
The attack is coming one week after gunmen attacked Foron District in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area and killed eight persons, including a pastor, his wife, and three children.
The Plateau State government expressed shock and said it was the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in northern Nigeria, Rev. Yakubu Pam, Governor Simon Lalong and the member representing Plateau State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Edward Pwajok, have directed security agents to fish out those who killed 11 persons.
Lalong, in a statement by the commissioner for information and communication, Yakubu Dati, condemned the attack and vowed to unravel those behind the attack.
“The government condemns this attack in its entirety and has instructed the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators, as they ensure the safety and security of the immediate environment and the entire state.
“Members of the public are called upon to resist any temptation to self-help as this would be playing to the script of these perpetrators whose ultimate aim is to return the state to the dark era of bloodletting,” he said.
Lalong ordered the security agencies to redouble their efforts in performing their constitutional responsibility of protecting life and property.
Pam said: “We received the news of the fresh attack with shock and all we want is for the security agents to unravel those behind the killings. It is getting too much and something urgent must be done.”
Similarly, Pwajok expressed deep shock over the attack. In a press statement issued in Jos, he condemned the attack in its totality and called on security agents to fish out the perpetrators to face the full wrath of the law.
The legislator condoled with the families who lost loved ones as a result of the attack and prayed to God to comfort and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
He called on security agencies to beef up security in the affected community to protect citizens, and do everything within constitutional provisions to forestall a recurrence of the killings.
Pwajok called for calm and urged residents to report any suspicious activities of strange persons around the community to security agencies for prompt action.
