The persistent crisis in Nigeria’s middle belt region heightened as gunmen launched another devastating attack in Plateau state. 10 people were tragically killed, and another injured in Mangu Local Government Area, a region continuously embattled by violence.
The fatal incident occurred in the Kulben community on Sunday evening. Local resident, Jerry Datim, recounted the horrifying event. According to Datim, the gunmen stormed the village, shooting indiscriminately and causing havoc. Despite efforts to alert security forces, their arrival was belated and the perpetrators had already fled the scene.
“The horrifying incident began around 8:40 p.m. Gunmen invaded our peaceful community, killing 10 residents and injuring another. They wreaked havoc before disappearing into the night,” Datim told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
A high-ranking police officer confirmed to NAN that the Plateau State Police Command is actively pursuing the perpetrators, guaranteeing that they will face justice.
Mangu has unfortunately been a frequent target of violent assaults and senseless killings in recent times. In June alone, over 200 individuals lost their lives in the area, as reported by the Plateau state governor, Caleb Mutfwang. In May, Solomon Maren, a representative of the Plateau constituency, reported that over 100 citizens were killed in two days during nocturnal attacks in Mangu/Bokkos.
Governor Mutfwang described 80 percent of these incidents as “pure genocide” and stated that the violence has resulted in the displacement of over 30,000 people. He further noted that the violent perpetrators are believed to be “foreign mercenaries”.
