Armed men suspected to be herdsmen have killed at least 12 people and injured four others at Kulben village, Kombun District in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Terna Tyopev, confirmed the attack in Jos.
The state Governor, Simon Lalong, and the member representing Plateau South, Hon. Bala Fwangje condemned the killing.
Tyopev said the incident occurred in the early hours of yesterday.
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He said: “In the early hours of today (yesterday), we received a distress call that gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen attacked Kulben community of Kombun District of Mangu.
“As a result, 12 persons lost their lives and one was severely injured.
“Immediately we received the information, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Akinmoyede, directed the DCP in charge of Operations, Mr Aliyu Tafida, to mobilise to the scene.
“As I speak our team of detectives and other officers are at the scene of the crime to prevent further attacks.”
Typopev said the injured were currently receiving treatment at Mangu General Hospital.
The PPRO called on residents of the community to remain calm and be law-abiding.
According to him, the police and other security agencies will do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.
He added: “No arrest is yet to be made, but we are doing everything possible to ensure the criminals are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.” Typopev called on the public to provide the police with useful information that would enable them to track down the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, Lalong in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Simon Macham, described the attack as another attempt to puncture the peace that had gradually returned to the state.
Commiserating with victims and families of those killed, the governor warned that his administration would not sit down and watch any group or individuals to cause chaos in the state and return it to the dark days of insecurity.
He said: “We have toiled to ensure that peace returns to Plateau State and we will not allow anyone to make nonsense our efforts. We are determined to deal decisively and firmly with anybody found culpable in attacking or inciting people to carry out attacks against one another.”
Lalong commended security agencies for arresting seven suspects connected to the killings and restoring normalcy to the area.
The governor promised that thorough investigations would be carried out to get to the bottom of the matter as anyone found wanting would face the full wrath of the law.
Lalong called for calm and advised against reprisals as the government was dealing with the situation.
On his part, Fwangje described as barbaric and unacceptable the killing of members of his constituency.
He noted that the people of Kulben community were peaceful and accommodating and wondered why some haters of peace and enemies of the state would lay siege to innocent and harmless people of the area.
The lawmaker called for calm among his people as security agencies and stakeholders were working to fish out those behind the attack.
Most of those killed were youths, while four others were receiving treatment in the hospital.
The Chairman, Mangu Local Government Area, Hon. Lawrence Danat also appealed for peace.
