Over 30 Feared Dead, 50 Houses Torched in Plateau Terror Attack

Not less than 30 people are feared dead and more than 50 houses and food barns set ablaze after gunmen suspected to be terrorists invaded the Jwak Maitumbi community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday.

A resident and youth leader, Lonji Zuhumnan, who confirmed the carnage to DAILY POST on Monday morning, said the rampaging gunmen numbering over 100 and armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the community at about 7:30am, shooting sporadically for several hours. He said residential buildings, shops, churches and huge quantities of crops were also destroyed during the attack.

Zuhumnan added that distress calls to security operatives for help were not responded to until the gunmen had finished their mission. He said, "Our community, Jwak Maitumbi, came under severe attack yesterday (Sunday) morning. The Fulani terrorists numbering over 100 and carrying sophisticated weapons stormed the village at about 7:30am as people were either in churches or preparing to go to their worship centres. They started shooting sporadically while the residents scampered for safety, and in the process, several people were gunned down by the attackers." He also said, "At the end of the carnage, we counted over 30 dead bodies while several others were injured. Apart from the people they slaughtered, the terrorists also burned down over 50 houses, shops, health centres, churches and food barns."