Gunmen kill four in fresh Plateau attacks

A 50-year-old farmer in Plateau State, Gawan Zhwe, has been killed by gunmen.

It was gathered that Zhwe was killed in his house alongside two others in Nkienzha village, Bassa Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

A community leader in the area, Nuhu Bitrus, confirmed this to our correspondent in Jos on Monday.

Bitrus said before the deaths of the three persons, the gunmen had earlier attacked another villager, killing him on the spot.

He said, “Nkienzha village came under gunmen attack last night (Sunday). Those killed during the attack on Sunday were Gawan Zhwe, who is over 50 years old; Lydia Yakubu, over 48 years and Nuhu Yakubu, 23 years.

“The attackers also injured two others including Zhime Yakubu and Monday Yakubu. But before the attack last night which led to the death of the three persons, the attackers had killed another villager, Musa Wolo, the previous day.

“So in all, we have four persons that were killed and they have just been buried a while ago. Even the Commander of Sector 3 of Operation Safe Haven was present when the victims were buried ”

The Irigwe Development Association, an umbrella body of the ethnic nationality in the local government condemned the renewed attacks.

In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Davidson Malison, the association described the attacks as unacceptable and called on the security agents to fish out the perpetrators wherever they might be hiding.

“The leadership of Rigwe Nation through the Traditional Council and the Development Association have described the resurgence of attacks and killing as callous and barbaric and cautioned the perpetrators to immediately put a halt on the mayhem being unleashed in the land.

“While sympathising and condoling with the nation, the paramount ruler of Rigwe Nation, the Brra Nggwe Rigwe, HRH Rev Ronku Aka (retd) and the IDA outgoing National President, Prince Amb Robert Ashi with concern and unsmiling faces drew the attention of the security agencies and insisted that the perpetrators must not be allowed to continue roaming the street like good people but immediately be apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.

“We equally call on the constituted authorities to do the needful to restore normalcy in the land so that we can continue our activities without hitches and glitches,” the statement read.