In the unfortunate incident that transpired on Sunday evening in Dungwel village, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, gunmen claimed the lives of at least four individuals. Shedrack Gambo, a relative of the victims, expressed the profound impact of the attack, noting that some others sustained injuries, plunging the community into a state of shock and grief.
Gambo conveyed, “They all died in the attack, and others were also injured in the incident. The community is presently in shock and grieving. Please, pray for us.”
The gravity of the situation was confirmed by Captain Oya James, the spokesman for the Military Taskforce, who relayed the information to news agents in Jos on Monday. According to Captain James, the assailants seemed to have a specific target in mind, with the village head being the apparent focus.
In recounting the events, Captain James explained, “According to what the troops were told, the assailants on arrival were asking for the house of the village head. When the people saw what was happening, they started running away.”
Tragically, the assailants not only claimed lives but also resorted to arson, setting ablaze the house of the village head, where family members were present. The village head managed to escape, thanks to the timely intervention of the soldiers. Captain James elaborated, “If not for the intervention of the soldiers, the wives of the village head and his children who were locked inside the house would have died because the house was still on fire when the troops got there and everywhere was filled with smoke.”
The troops, alerted to the dire situation, took swift action, breaking into the engulfed house to rescue the trapped individuals.
As at presstime, details and identities of the criminals are still unknown
IMAGE: Aljazeera
