In the early hours of Wednesday, gunmen launched a deadly assault on Kwahaslalek village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 30 individuals. Reports indicate that the victims, primarily women and children, sought refuge in the residence of a community leader on Tuesday night following earlier unrest in Mangu town. The assailants surrounded them, ultimately killing everyone in the house.
Mark Haruna, a community leader, confirmed the alarming death toll to reporters in Jos, the state capital. Haruna stated, “The events in Sabon Gari and Mangu town yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) were merely distractions to divert attention away from the villages. For the second time, my village Kwahaslalek (behind NYSC camp) came under attack by gunmen last night, resulting in the tragic loss of over 25 lives, mostly women and children.”
Joseph Gwankat, Chairman of the Mwaghavul Development Association, also verified the incident, condemning it as a heartless act. He revealed, “The unrest in Mangu town yesterday instilled fear in many communities. In response, some villagers evacuated their loved ones, assembling them in what they believed to be a safe location. Tragically, the killers targeted Kwahaslalek village at night, where these people, mainly women and children, were gathered, leading to their untimely demise.”
Expressing frustration at the lack of security, Gwankat added, “I was informed that no security presence was available to protect the villagers. This act is sheer wickedness. How can people in their own villages be subjected to constant attacks and killings without any intervention to stop the perpetrators?”
The spokesperson for the state police command, Alabo Alfred, mentioned that he had not received a report on the incident when contacted. “I have not received any report on that. Let me call my Commander. We will investigate the incident if something like that indeed happened,” stated the PPRO.
Responding to the escalating security situation, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, declared a 24-hour curfew in Mangu LGA on Tuesday. This decision followed heightened tensions and unrest, which resulted in the destruction of numerous houses, including churches and mosques.
The state continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Christmas Eve attacks on communities in three local government areas, during which gunmen targeted various villages, burning houses and shooting residents. The death toll from those attacks reportedly exceeded 150 people.
