Three people were killed and a teenage girl sustained gunshot injuries after suspected armed bandits attacked a gathering in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The assailants, believed to be Fulani bandits, reportedly invaded a smoking spot in the Rantiya community on Saturday evening, opening fire on those present before fleeing the scene.
Security sources said troops of Sector 4, Operation Enduring Peace, were mobilised to the area after receiving reports of sporadic gunfire at about 7:58 p.m. on July 4.
On arrival, the soldiers discovered the bodies of three young men who had been fatally shot during the attack.
They also found a teenage girl suffering from gunshot wounds.
The victims’ bodies were evacuated to the General Hospital in Barkin Ladi, while the injured girl was taken to Damlak Clinic for urgent medical attention.
Security operatives have since launched a manhunt for the fleeing attackers as efforts intensify to apprehend those responsible for the killings.
Authorities also said investigations into the incident were ongoing, adding that security measures had been strengthened to restore calm and prevent further violence in the affected community.