Death toll in fresh Plateau attack climbs to 51
The death toll in Monday’s attack on the Zike community, Kimakpa, Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, has risen to 51, with several houses razed.
A Kwall community leader, Wakili Tongwe, while speaking to reporters said the attackers invaded the village in the early hours of Monday and shot sporadically at residents, who were scampering for safety after hearing gunshots.
He said a team of vigilantes, including himself and some security personnel, were on patrol in another community when the attackers invaded the village and started shooting.
According to him, though the security personnel engaged the invaders and succeeded in repelling the attackers, the damage had been done, with about thirty-six persons shot dead and four others dying later.
He added that other residents sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving medical attention at the hospital.
At the time of filing this report, security agencies in the state are yet to comment on the attack.
Salient Times reports that Plateau State has, for several decades, been a hotbed of killings, with gunmen sacking entire communities.
No fewer than 200 people were killed at Christmas 2023 celebrations during a bloody attack on a majority Christian community.
Then in May last year, at least 40 people were killed and homes torched in the town of Wase.
