Several persons have been feared killed, while many others sustained injuries, following a deadly attack by gunmen on mourners attending a mass burial in Nding Fan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The mourners had gathered to bury seven victims who were reportedly killed in an earlier assault on the community when the attackers struck again on Wednesday.
According to eyewitness accounts, the gunmen, said to have been hiding around surrounding hills, suddenly invaded the area and opened fire on residents who were digging graves for the deceased victims.
A journalist and eyewitness, Masara Kim, disclosed that multiple communities in the area were simultaneously under attack during the incident.
Speaking via telephone, Kim explained that mourners were forced to abandon the burial rites midway and flee for safety as heavy gunfire erupted across the community.
“There is an ongoing massive attack on communities south of Jos. More than five communities are under simultaneous assault. While we were at the burial site, the attackers emerged from the hills and began shooting,” he said.
Kim further revealed that he witnessed a man being shot dead during the attack, adding that local vigilantes armed with hunting rifles and locally made weapons were unable to repel the assailants.
He noted that many residents escaped into nearby bushes and surrounding communities as panic spread across the area, while the exact number of casualties remained unclear due to the chaotic nature of the attack.
Reacting to the incident, the Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, described the situation as “terrible,” stating that rescue efforts were ongoing to locate and evacuate trapped residents.
The latest attack has heightened concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of Plateau State, especially in rural communities that have repeatedly suffered violent assaults in recent months.
Security agencies are yet to officially confirm the casualty figures as tension continues to rise across the affected communities.
