Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen and cattle rustlers have attacked Gwom Gada community in Kadunu Ward of the Gindiri area, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing four siblings and injuring two other residents.
The attackers were said to have invaded the community on Friday, firing sporadically before making away with an unspecified number of cows belonging to one Alhaji Tanko Adamu.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Mwolpun, in a statement issued through his Director of Press, Jerry Dakahap, said the victims, aged 18, seven, five and two, were caught in the crossfire during the attack.
Two neighbours of the family were also critically injured.
The statement said the council chairman visited the community on Sunday to commiserate with the bereaved family and residents, where he condemned the attack, describing it as inhumane and unacceptable, while assuring that the perpetrators would be tracked down and brought to justice.
“We are deeply saddened by this senseless violence.
We stand with the community and the affected families, and we will do everything possible to support the community to prevent similar incidents from occurring again,” the statement quoted Hon. Mwolpun as saying.
“The Chairman has specifically instructed that the security personnel increase their presence in the community to prevent further attacks.
The community is still reeling from the shock of the attack and has called for increased security measures to protect them from such incidents in the future,” Dakahap added.
Also speaking during the visit, the Mangu Sector Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Col. Fagbemi, who accompanied the chairman, assured residents that additional security personnel would be deployed immediately to forestall a recurrence.