Tragedy struck Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Tuesday as gunmen launched separate attacks, killing a security personnel and three civilians.
The security operative, attached to the state-owned security outfit, “Operation Rainbow”. was killed during an ambush along the Gagshi Road.
In a simultaneous development, three other persons, including two women, were reportedly shot dead at Rakok community, popularly known as Kafi Abu, while attending a funeral.
Confirming the incidents in Jos, the President of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Barr. Solomon Mwantiri, described his narrow escape from the Gagshi Road ambush as a “divine intervention.”
Mwantiri expressed worry that the security situation in the state was taking a “bigger dimension,” noting that the assailants had moved from midnight raids to daring daylight operations.
He said, “I would have also been involved in that incident if not that God, out of His mercy, saved me. This security challenge has entered another level. This is taking a bigger dimension. It is no longer just night attacks; it is happening even during the daytime.”
Mwantiri further urged security agencies not to be deterred by the risks but to remain steadfast in their duty to restore peace to the troubled communities.
Providing details on the funeral attack, a community source, Lawrence Gyang, told New Telegraph that the victims were among mourners who had gathered for the burial of two persons killed the previous day while travelling to Gashish District.
“One man and two unidentified women were killed in broad daylight while attending the funeral. They were mourning their loved ones when the gunmen opened fire on them,” Gyang added.
A security source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed the casualty within the *Operation Rainbow* ranks.
“We experienced a heavy ambush around 4:00 PM in which a security personnel attached to Operation Rainbow was killed,”
The latest killings have heightened tension in Barkin Ladi and neighbouring areas, coming barely 24 hours after the state government announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew to stem the tide of violence in the region.
As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Police Command was yet to issue an official statement regarding the casualties.
