In the early hours of Wednesday, gunmen attacked Kwahaslalek village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, resulting in the tragic killing of at least 30 people, predominantly women and children. The victims had sought refuge in the house of a community leader the previous night after unrest in Mangu town. The attackers surrounded them, leading to the devastating incident.
Mark Haruna, a community leader, confirmed the death toll, describing the attack as a deliberate diversion from the earlier unrest in Mangu town. He disclosed that the assailants targeted Kwahaslalek village, causing immense harm to the assembled residents.
Joseph Gwankat, Chairman of Mwaghavul Development Association, condemned the killings, highlighting the absence of security presence during the attack. He expressed disbelief at the constant targeting of villagers without effective measures to stop the perpetrators.
The state police command’s spokesperson, Alabo Alfred, stated he hadn’t received a report on the incident at the time of inquiry. Governor Caleb Mutfwang declared a 24-hour curfew in Mangu LGA on Tuesday due to the deteriorating security situation, with previous unrest resulting in burned houses, churches, and mosques.
The state, still recovering from the Christmas Eve attacks, faces ongoing security challenges as communities in various local government areas continue to be targeted by gunmen. The recent attack adds to the urgency of addressing the security crisis in Plateau State.
