78 Feared Dead, 70 Missing in Recent Plateau Attack

78 Feared Dead, 70 Missing in Recent Plateau Attack

Details have emerged on Sunday’s attack on communities in Kanam local government area of Plateau State as residents and eyewitnesses put the death toll at 78 and 70 abductions.

Sources in the affected communities claimed that over 78 persons were killed when gunmen in large numbers stormed Kukawa, Gyambawu, Dungur, Kyaram, Yelwa, Dadda, Wanka, Shuwaka, Gwammadaji and Dadin Kowa villages of Garga district.

One of the members of the affected communities, Mr Fanya Ali, who spoke to journalists said in Kukawa 36 persons were killed, 24 in Gyambau, eight in Kyaram and 10 in Wanka bringing the total number of deaths to 78.

He also said the number of those killed in the bush and burnt in their houses were yet to be ascertained.

According to him, many victims were admitted in Dengi General Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital JUTH for treatment.

78 Feared Dead, 70 Missing in Recent Plateau Attack

Another eyewitness who gave his name as Sariki Bitrus explained that over 70 persons were abducted including women and children.

He said several persons in the communities are currently displaced as a result of the invasion of their communities and homes by the terrorists.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the state police command, Ubah Gabriel, told newsmen that they could not give the exact number of casualties for now.

He said, “Our men have been deployed to the affected communities since yesterday. I will give you the full details of the number of casualties soon.”

In the same vein, the Plateau Elders Forum has lamented the killings of innocent persons in Kanam local government council of the state.

A statement signed by Jonathan Ishaku, the spokesman of the group in Jos said within a week of their press release condemning terrorist attacks on Miango villages in Bassa local government area (LGA) and Rantis in Barkin Ladi LGA, bandits have allegedly killed several persons, wounded many and abducted over 70 in Kanam LGA yesterday.

“This is again very sad and we strongly condemn it.  This seeming escalation of violence on our communities further justifies the earlier call the Plateau Elders Forum made on the Plateau State government in conjunction with the security forces to deal drastically with terrorists in the state.”

The statement called on the security operatives to ensure the immediate rescue of all abducted persons with a view to reuniting them with their families.

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