Gunmen suspected to be Fulani militants have killed a 19-year-old man identified as Jude Nicodemus and injured two other people at Gana Rop village in Barkin-Ladi local government area of Plateau State.
It was gathered that the gunmen attacked the community in the early hours of Thursday, December 21, 2023, killing Jude the deceased in his house while two of his neighbours were injured.
A resident of the village, Benshark Timothy, said the gunmen, who were about ten in number, fled after the dastardly act, adding that those who sustained injuries were taken to the General Hospital in Barkin Ladi by personnel of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).
“This is one of the recent renewed attacks and killings without any form of provocation in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos, and Mangu by the marauders, who have vowed to make the forthcoming Christmas and New Year come with mixed feelings in the state,” he said.
The Berom Youth Moulders (BYM), in a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Rwang Tengwong, said the tragic incident, among others, occurred following some security intelligence, which revealed that Fulani militant groups have vowed to resume hostilities in villages and communities during the Christmas celebrations.
It, however, condemned the recent killings in some parts of Plateau State and, in the same vein, called on all security outfits, particularly Operation Safe Haven-OPSH under the command of Maj. Gen. AE Abdulsallam, who doubles as the GOC 3rd Armoured Division, to redouble their efforts in combating the resurgence of acts of terrorism and flush out the terrorist elements that are said to have been stationed in the hills of Were in Ropp of Barkin Ladi LGA and some parts of Plateau.
The BYM commended the rapid response of Sector 4 Commander, Col. U.S. Abdulsallam, for his swift action that forestalled further casualties in the general area.
It sympathised with families that lost their beloved one in recent unprovocative attacks and appealed to members of the public to be more vigilant before, during, and after the festive season.