Despite Curfew, Gunmen Kill 25 in Plateau Community

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Despite the 24-hour curfew imposed on Mangu community by the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, gunmen invaded Kwahaslalek village in the community in the early hours of Wednesday, killing no fewer than 25 persons.

THISDAY gathered that the victims, who were predominantly women and children, had taken refuge in the house of a community leader in the area the previous day following earlier unrest during the day in Mangu town when the gunmen rounded them up and slaughtered them right at the community leader’s house.

Several houses were also razed in the village which is on the outskirts of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp in the state.

A resident of the affected community, Mr. Hosea Ibrahim, said that the skirmishes that happened in Mangu town Wednesday were a decoy to distract attention from the villagers so they could have their way.

He said: “For the second time, Kwahaslalek has come under attack by gunmen in recent days. They came at about 12:30 am and killed over 25 people, mostly women and children.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Mwaghavul Development Association, Mr. Joseph Gwankat, also confirmed the killing, describing it as horrible.

He said: “I couldn’t sleep last night as a result of what happened in Mangu town on Tuesday. Now, I have just been told that Kwahaslalek village was attacked last night and about 30 people were killed.

“From what I was told, the unrest in Mangu town yesterday created fears in many communities. Some people in the village went and evacuated their loved ones and assembled them in a place that they thought was safe.

“So, in the night, the killers went to Kwahaslalek village where the people, mostly women and children, were assembled and killed all of them.

“I was told that no security man was on ground to defend the villagers. This act is pure wickedness! How can people who are in their villages be targets of constant attacks and killings without anything being done to stop the perpetrators?”

Meanwhile, Mairana, Kinat and other communities in Mangu Halle district and those on the borders of Mangu and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas are currently deserted.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alfred Alabo, who said on Tuesday that his men were fully on ground in Mangu to ensure that there was no breach of peace, said he had yet to receive the report of the incident.

Alabo said: “I have not received any report on that. Let me call my commander. We will investigate the incident.”

Mutfwang had imposed a 24-hour curfew on Mangu LGA on Tuesday to forestall the escalation of unrest that left several houses, including churches and mosques, burnt down.