Death toll rises to three in Plateau community attack

By Gilbert Joseph

The death toll from a late Monday attack on Garga community in Plateau State has risen to three, residents have confirmed.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in the community, located in Kanam Local Government Area, on motorcycles and opened fire on residents, killing one person instantly and injuring several others. Cattle were also reportedly rustled during the incident.

According to residents, the assailants shot sporadically, causing panic, while local vigilantes and hunters mobilised to pursue them, though not before significant damage had been inflicted.

The attack has heightened concerns over insecurity in the area, with residents calling for increased security presence to prevent further violence.

Similarly, residents have raised alarm over the presence of bandits in neighbouring Birbiyang town, less than 15 kilometres from Garga district, urging security agencies to intervene.

In a widely circulated WhatsApp message, residents appealed to the government to act swiftly to prevent further loss of innocent lives. The message alleged that armed men operated freely in Birbiyang, a federal ward under Kantana area, without security intervention, leaving residents vulnerable.

The message noted that the proximity between Birbiyang and Garga underscores a troubling pattern of repeated attacks in neighbouring communities, which residents described as painful and unacceptable.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, said authorities were still working to ascertain the details of the incident.

“We’re still making efforts to get to the root of the matter. After that, we will get back to the public,” he said.

The post Death toll rises to three in Plateau community attack appeared first on Vanguard News.