Mutfwang Orders Manhunt as Villages Mourn Killings in Barkin Ladi and Mangu
Yemi Kosoko in Jos
The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has ordered manhunt for criminals who attacked Barkin Ladi and Mangu Local Government Areas of the state, resulting in loss of several lives.
Plateau has since been thrown into mourning following a series of deadly attacks. At least, 10 people were killed on Sunday in Ratatis community, in what Mutfwang described as a “barbaric and senseless” assault.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Joyce Ramnap, the governor directed security agencies to intensify operations and ensure the perpetrators are arrested.
Mutfwang said the attack was a setback to ongoing peace efforts across the state, assuring the people that injured victims were receiving medical attention while a joint search‑and‑rescue team had been deployed to the area.
He urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives, as security patrols have already increased in Jos following rising tensions and temporary closure of shops in some parts of the city.
In Jos North, where four traders were killed on their way to Pankshin in a separate incident, the Local Government Chairman, John Christopher, addressed stakeholders and condemned the killings as “cowardly” and “unprovoked.”
He commended Mutfwang for what he described as proactive support—both moral and material—towards managing the crisis.
He also praised security agencies, including the police, military, DSS, civil defence, and community security outfits, for preventing the situation from escalating.
Meanwhile, the Jasawa Community Development Association (JCDA) has expressed deep sorrow over the killing of five of its members at Mangu Hale on Monday morning.
The victims—Uwaisu, Zubairu, Shamsu, Babakarami, and Ibrahim—were reportedly travelling to Pankshin for business when they were ambushed and shot dead.
In a statement signed by its Secretary‑General, Muhammad Tanko Shittu, the association described the killings as “heinous and senseless,” calling for a thorough investigation and swift prosecution of the perpetrators.
“These were law‑abiding and hardworking citizens striving to earn a decent living. Their tragic deaths have left their families and the entire Jasawa community in deep grief,” the statement read.
