By Musa Tanimu
Scores of residents are believed to have been slaughtered by the bandit militia tormenting the people of Plateau state today.
The slaughtering spree which took place during the wee hours of this morning was said to have resulted in the burning down of many homes of residents of Kubat and Fungzai communities of Mangu council areas of the state while most of the residents were asleep.
Security operatives had taken charge of the situation to avoid reprisal reactions from the angry residents whose relatives have been killed.
Reacting to the incident, authorities of Mangu council area have slammed a 24 hour curfew on the residents to enable the security agencies swoop into action and fish out the culprits who are involved in this lingering genocide on the plateau as directed by Governor Simon Lalong.
A statement signed by Mangu Local Government Chairman, Daput, noted that “the stay at home order was agreed on after consultation with security heads as means of restoring law and order in the affected communities as well as to avoid the situation from getting out of hand considering the numbers of casualties involved in the attack.”
Lalong asks security to chase away the bandits
Also reacting to the killings of the residents, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong said he woke up on Tuesday 16th May 2023 to distressing news of an overnight attack on Kubat Village in Mangu council area where some persons including women and children were reportedly killed.
A statement by the Governor’s spokesperson Makut Macham noted that Lalong who is seriously disturbed about the sad development has immediately directed security forces to pursue the attackers and ensure they are arrested.
He describes this as “yet another attempt by crises merchants and criminals to return the State to the dark days of pain and agony, vowing that the Government will stop at nothing to ensure that those behind this scheme are dealt with mercilessly.
” While condemning the act, the Governor commiserates with the victims and assures that the murderers will not be allowed to go unpunished as this is an act that can neither be tolerated or excused no matter the motivation.
” The Governor has equally directed the State Emergency Management Agency and the Peace Building Agency to visit the area and ascertain the humanitarian needs so as to bring succour to the affected while thorough investigation is being carried out.” said Macham
THE KUBWAT, FUNGZAI DAWN ATTACK: ONE TOO MANY
Also reacting to the slaughter of mostly women and children the plateau peace agency in a statement signed by its Director General Joseph Lengman expressed sadness about the callous and brutal way the bandit militia slaughtered the residents of Kubat and Fungzai.
The statement went on: “We are yet again awoken to the sad event in Kubwat and Fungzai villages, Kombun District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where some armed gunmen attacked the community shooting sporadically.
“These merchants of death left in their trail a yet to be ascertained number of persons dead, including women and children.
” The dawn attack in Kubwat and Fungzai, which created a state of pandemonium in the locality as well as neighbouring local government areas, is one too many incidents of unprovoked attacks recorded within the last two months in Mangu LGA and other places.
“While we commiserate with the victims and their families, the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA) joins the Mishkaham Mwaghavul and all people of good conscience to condemn in totality this senseless destruction to lives and property in the affected communities.
“Consequently, we call on community leaders at all levels to check the influx of persons with questionable character into their communities while working closely with security agencies to weed out bad elements from their midst.
” We encourage our communities to be vigilant at all times and to act in ways that can help prevent or wade off attacks from such marauders.
” Finally, we call on the security agencies to do the needful by not only arresting the perpetrators but also acting on credible intelligence to mitigate against the risk of future attacks. ”
Attempts to speak with the police spokesperson Alfred Alabo was futile as he did not respond to calls or text messages put across to him.
Meanwhile many residents of the affected communities have gone to neighbouring towns and villages to take refuge.
