13 people, including two women have been confirmed killed by gunmen at Kwatas village in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau.
According to reports on the killing that occurred late Sunday, 11 of the victims were young people.
The Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Abu Gabriel, confirmed the incident, the latest of such incident in Plateau State within a fortnight.
He called for calm, promising to talk more on the incident after assessing the situation.
The Special Task Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Augustine Agundi, also confirmed the incident, describing it as “very unfortunate”.
Agundi said that troops of the task force had been deployed in the area, noting that efforts were being made to track down the perpetrators of the crime.
He called for calm, assuring people of the community and environs of adequate protection.
A former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Titus Alams, who is also a native of Bokkos, described the killing as “barbaric, cruel and uncalled for.
“What on earth could be the offence of our people to warrant such wicked attacks on us?”
He called on the state and Federal Governments to take steps to curtail the incessant killing of people in Plateau.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Plateau State Chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Ezekiel Vondip, condemned the killing.
“The people being killed in attacks in Plateau State are human beings and not chickens. Therefore, the Federal Government must put a stop to the killings,” he stated.
Meanwhile the state Governor, Simon Lalong has condemned the killing.
The governor said that the government and security agencies would ensure that justice is done t those affected.
Lalong in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affiars, Makut Macham, described the attack as another attempt by criminals to take the state back to the dark days of insecurity which it has substantially overcome.
The governor commiserated with families of those killed and injured and directed security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and ensure their prosecution.
“My heart again bleeds by this tragedy as lives of innocent citizens are cut short for no reason.
“Security agencies must go after those who are behind these attacks and their sponsors so they can face the law and be taught a lesson.
“We do not need another circle of bloodshed in Plateau State as all well-meaning citizens have committed to peaceful coexistence and tolerance.
“My administration will not allow anyone, no matter how highly placed, to jeopardize this peace,” he said.
The governor reiterated his commitment to work with the federal government and relevant stakeholders in strengthening community policing, ensuring robust intelligence gathering and early intervention to forestall a reoccurrence of such incident, the NAN report highlighted.
