Over 30 feared dead, 50 houses torched as terrorists attack Plateau community

Not less than 30 people were reportedly killed, with an unspecified number injured, while more than 50 houses and food barns were set ablaze after gunmen suspected to be terrorists invaded the Jwak Maitumbi community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday.

A resident of the community, Lonji Zuhumnan, who confirmed the carnage to DAILY POST on Monday morning, said the rampaging gunmen numbering over 100 and armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the community at about 7:30am, shooting sporadically for several hours, killing the victims, injuring others and setting houses and food silos ablaze.

Zuhumnan, who is also a youth leader in the village, stated that apart from the people killed and injured, residential buildings, shops, churches and huge quantities of crops were also destroyed during the attack.

He added that distress calls to security operatives for help were not responded to until the gunmen had finished their mission.

“Our community, Jwak Maitumbi, came under severe attack yesterday (Sunday) morning,” Zuhumnan said.

“The Fulani terrorists numbering over 100 and carrying sophisticated weapons stormed the village at about 7:30am as people were either in churches or preparing to go to their worship centres. They started shooting sporadically while the residents scampered for safety, and in the process, several people were gunned down by the attackers.

“At the end of the carnage, we counted over 30 dead bodies while several others were injured. Apart from the people they slaughtered, the terrorists also burned down over 50 houses, shops, health centres, churches and food barns.

“They also entered our farms and destroyed crops planted. While the assailants were having a field day, frantic calls made to security personnel in Mangu were futile as the soldiers did not come until the attackers had finished their mission and fled into the bushes and rocks,” the youth leader said.