21 feared killed in fresh Barkinladi, Plateau attack
Busolami Idowu
Armed persons suspected to be herdsmen attacked Kukek community in Bajin Kogi Forun District of Barkinladi Local Government Area of Plateau State in the early hours of thursday.
In the course of the mayhem the home of a man identified as Tsok Gwom was attacked between 1 and 2:00 a.m. killing nine members of his family including Mr. Gwom, three women, and five children who were all said to have bullet wounds on their bodies.
One of the women was identified as Mr. Gwom’s wife. The victims’ corpses were yet to be taken to the hospital as at 1:30 p.m.
According to resident of the community, gunshots alerted members of the vigilante group who have been on red alert. The vigilante members reportedly launched a reprisal attack during which 12 of the assailant were killed.
Hundreds of people have been killed in different Plateau communities including Barkinladi in ethno-religious violence in the last three years despite various efforts by the state and federal government to maintain peace in the state.