Victims Mostly Women and Children; Security Forces Criticized for Inaction
Plateau State, Nigeria In a horrifying incident that unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday, over 30 villagers were ruthlessly slaughtered as gunmen launched a vicious attack on Kwahaslalek village in Mangu local government area of Plateau state.
According to sources, the victims of this heart-wrenching assault were predominantly women and children. The unfortunate incident came on the heels of an unrest in Mangu town on Tuesday, during which the affected villagers sought refuge in the residence of a community leader.
Mr. Mark Haruna, a prominent community leader in the area, confirmed the tragic attack, expressing his grief over the senseless loss of innocent lives. He stated, "What happened at Sabon Gari and Mangu town yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) was just a distraction so that the attention of the people will be shifted away from the villages. For the second time, my village Kwahaslalek (behind NYSC camp) came under attack by gunmen yesterday (Tuesday) night. They came at about 12:30 am and killed over 25 people, mostly women and children."
Joseph Gwankat, Chairman of the Mwaghavul Development Association, echoed the sentiments of shock and dismay, labeling the incident as callous. "I couldn't sleep last night as a result of what happened in Mangu town during the day yesterday. Now, I have just been told Kwahaslalek village was attacked last night and about 30 people were killed," he said. Gwankat further revealed that the unrest in Mangu town had instilled fear in many communities, prompting some residents to evacuate their loved ones and gather them in what they believed to be a safe location. Tragically, the assailants targeted this gathering, resulting in the loss of numerous innocent lives.
Criticism has been directed towards the security forces, as it was reported that no security personnel were present in the area to protect the villagers during the attack. Gwankat voiced his concern, stating, "This act is pure wickedness. How can people who are in their villages be targets of constant attacks and killings without anything being done to stop the perpetrators?"
At the time of reporting, the Plateau State police command had not issued an official statement regarding the incident. This incident comes in the wake of a series of escalating attacks by terrorists in the North Central State over the past month. During the Christmas Eve attacks, over 200 villagers were brutally killed and numerous homes were razed in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi local government areas of the state, further exacerbating the security crisis in the region.
