Condemnation as Bandits Kill 10 in Plateau Community

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

About ten people were reportedly killed, and scores injured late Sunday evening, when suspected bandits attacked Pinau community of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident occurred after the villagers had rounded off from their weekly community market and retired to their homes.

A member of the community, Hamman Sale, who confirmed the development to THISDAY, alleged that the suspected bandits were from Zamfara State.

Spokesperson of the state Police Command, Mr. Gabriel Ubah, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who also confirmed the incident, said the Command was yet to get full details on the attack.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase,has condemned the attack, describing it as ‘inhuman, senseless and unwarranted’, adding that, “The attackers must be brought to book.”

In a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Muhammad Puma, the deputy speaker described the killings as “painful and highly regrettable, especially, at a time the people are striving hard to earn their means of livelihood.”

While urging them to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, Wase said, “My sympathies are with the families that lost their loved ones in this callous act. These senseless killings are painful and highly condemnable. I pray that the Almighty God accepts the souls of all those that lost their lives in this unfortunate incident.”

Also condemning the attack, the Senator representing Plateau South zone in the National Assembly, Professor Nora Dadu’ut, called on security operatives to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, Dadu’ut said, the attackers should be made to pay for their heinous crimes.

“I call on security operatives to go after those attacking innocent villagers and they should be made to pay for their heinous actions,” She said.