No fewer than 15 people were killed in separate attacks by gunmen on communities in Jos South, Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State on Sunday night, with nine of the victims reportedly passengers travelling to Jos.
The nine passengers were killed when suspected terrorists opened fire on their vehicle at Dungus community in Jos South Local Government Area. Six others were reportedly killed in separate attacks in Mangu and Riyom.
The spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders, Rwang Tengwong, who confirmed the Dungus attack, said the victims were passengers travelling to Jos when the attackers opened fire on their vehicle.
He said the incident occurred at about 9:40 p.m.
“The victims were all passengers travelling to Jos when the terrorists opened fire on the vehicle. Among those killed was a member of Operation Rainbow. It is a very sad development, and we lament the loss of lives,” Tengwong said.
According to him, some of the passengers sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospitals, where some later died.
“It was a vehicle carrying passengers to Jos. The attackers opened fire on them, and some of the victims were killed,” he added.
A resident of the community, Musa Dauda, also confirmed the attack, saying some of the injured passengers died while receiving treatment.
“Some of the passengers who were injured were taken to the hospital, but some of them died while receiving treatment. Others are still in the hospital receiving treatment,” Dauda said.
Meanwhile, in Mangu Local Government Area, suspected terrorists reportedly attacked Vodni in Pushit District during the night, killing two people.
Four others sustained gunshot injuries and were receiving treatment at a hospital in Mangu town.
In Riyom Local Government Area, two people were also reportedly killed in a separate attack at Tahoos around the same period.
The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, and the Media Officer, Operation Enduring Peace, Chinonso Oteh, had yet to respond to enquiries sent by our correspondent on the incidents at the time of filing this report.
