At least eight people have been killed and more than 10 others injured following a deadly attack by gunmen on Gwon-Ajang village in the Foron District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Residents said the attack occurred around 10 p.m. on Sunday when armed assailants stormed the community and opened fire on people attending a birthday celebration.
According to eyewitness accounts, the victims had gathered for a social event when the gunmen invaded the venue and began shooting indiscriminately, forcing residents to flee for safety, The News Edition reports.
A community youth, Bishop Iliya, confirmed the incident, saying the victims were celebrating the birthday of one of their members when the attackers struck.
He explained that the gunmen shot at attendees without warning, leaving several people dead and many others with varying degrees of injuries.
“The victims were gathered for a birthday celebration when the attackers arrived and started shooting indiscriminately. It is a tragic and painful incident for our community,” Iliya said.
He also decried the recurring security challenges affecting communities across Plateau State and urged security agencies to strengthen efforts to protect lives and property.
The attack was also confirmed by the Berom Youths Moulder-Association (BYM-A) in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong.
The association alleged that armed terrorists were responsible for the assault, stating that at least eight people lost their lives while more than 10 others sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospitals for medical treatment.
BYM-A expressed concern over the resurgence of violence in the area and called on security agencies to take swift action to stop further attacks and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Sources said injured victims were evacuated to nearby healthcare facilities, while security operatives were deployed to the community to restore calm and prevent further violence.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official response from the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful.