At least nine people killed in attacks in Nigeria’s Plateau State — Premium Times Nigeria
At least nine people have reportedly been killed in separate attacks in Nigeria’s Plateau State. According to Premium Times Nigeria, the attacks occurred overnight from Saturday to Sunday in the Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas and nearby communities.
Five people travelling to Gana-Ropp in the Barkin Ladi area were reportedly killed after their vehicle was attacked on Saturday evening. Another two people, including a pastor, were killed in Dorowa-Babuje on Sunday morning while heading to church, residents said.
Two more deaths were reported in Baten-Werenz in the Riyom area and Ratidi in the Fan district. The attacks caused panic: residents said women and children were moved to safer places after gunshots were heard near the Kantoma area.
Military operations
Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace said it had arrested 11 suspected members of a group involved in kidnappings and rescued two abducted people during separate operations in the state.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
According to the group’s media officer, Captain Chinonso Oteh, troops carried out raids in the Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills areas after receiving intelligence about the activities of suspected kidnappers near Rayfield and in other parts of the Jos North local government area.
The military also said that information for the operation was provided by two people who were abducted in the Gwafan community on September 18. During a preliminary investigation, they identified three detainees as suspected members of the group that, according to the military, was involved in their abduction.
Weapons and additional arrests
In the Bassa area, troops arrested a suspect during a cordon-and-search operation and seized a locally made gun. In the Mangu area, a patrol arrested another suspect who, according to the military, tried to hide a weapon after seeing servicemen. A locally made automatic weapon, nine 7.62 mm rounds and a mobile phone were seized from him.
The detainees remain in custody, and an investigation into their possible links to other members of the group is ongoing. As of Sunday, Plateau State police had not released consolidated official data on the number of people killed in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and nearby communities. The publication noted that differing reports of casualties could not immediately be independently verified.
