THREE persons have been killed and one injured in a fresh attack in Nyamgo Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, deepening fears over the deteriorating security situation in the region.
News Point Nigeria reports that the victims, identified as Luka Sandu Pam (36), Samuel Davou (38), and Deme Saidu (35), were ambushed by assailants at about 7pm on Friday while returning home from Gero on a motorbike.
The attack, which occurred on Good Friday, has left the community in shock and mourning.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the victims were part of a group of about 15 youths returning from a mining site when they ran into the ambush.
According to the Gyel Youth Leader, Dung Davou, the group came under sudden attack by suspected armed herdsmen, forcing them to flee for safety.
“We started hearing sporadic gunshots, and everyone scattered. Unfortunately, three of our people were killed,” he said, calling on authorities to urgently address what he described as repeated and unprovoked attacks on the community.
The Chairman of the Berom Youth Moulder Association, Barrister Solomon Dalyop, who spoke at the scene, lamented the killing, describing it as a grim reflection of the growing insecurity in Plateau State.
Standing beside the bodies of the victims, he recounted that they had gone to observe Good Friday before being killed on their way back home.
“These young men went to mark Good Friday and were returning home when they were ambushed and killed. This is heartbreaking,” Dalyop said.
He disclosed that community leaders had recently held a security meeting with members of the Fulani community at the Sector 2 Command of the Nigerian Army in Jos South, where concerns were raised over the movement of unknown persons around Gero, Rafin Bauna, and Dutsen Kura in the Miyango-Bassa axis.
“We were informed about suspicious movements in these areas, and we have since cautioned our people to be vigilant, especially at night,” he added.
Dalyop, however, warned that the situation could worsen if urgent steps are not taken, alleging that armed groups have occupied bushes across parts of Plateau State.
“If nothing serious is done, this may just be the beginning of more terror. Terrorists are taking over our bushes,” he said, while decrying the absence of adequate security presence in the area.
He noted that only the police responded after the attack, evacuating the injured survivor to a hospital.
Community members have since called for increased security deployment and heightened vigilance to prevent further attacks, as preparations begin for the burial of the victims.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Command, SP Alfred Alabo, for official confirmation were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls as of press time.
The latest killings come amid a wave of violent incidents in Plateau State, raising fresh concerns over the safety of residents and the effectiveness of ongoing security efforts.