Gumen Attack Plateau Village, over 250 Houses Burnt

Another Gunmen attack has occurred in Plateau state, this time Shonong village in Riyom local Government Area of Plateau State was attacked and about 250 houses in the community burnt.

According to resident of the villag who spoke with the  Punch,  the gunmen numbered at least 500 and attacked the village at around 9pm on Thursday night as the villagers were preparing to go to bed.

Isaac Kahwun, a community resident narrated how the gunmen came in their usual manner to attack villagers unawares. He said the attackers shot sporadically to announce their arrival.

The  community member said a distress call sent to the special task force in charge of the village and the security agent told villagers to run to safer places as they were not well stocked the firearm and ammunition to engage the gunmen in battle.

He said, “As a result of this, all the villagers left their houses and took refuge in neighbouring villages. In the middle of the night, the gunmen returned and set all the houses ablaze.

“Some house where relief materials were kept for onward distribution to victims of the earlier attacks were also looted by the attackers while they set the remaining ones ablaze.


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“Over 1,000 residents who fled their homes are now sleeping in primary schools in neighbouring villages.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Mrs. Josephine Piyo who intended to visit the village to see the aftermath of the attacks was advised by the task force to return as they could not guarantee her safety in the affected village.

Mrs. Josphine on hearing she couldn’t get into the village expressed her anger over what she described as persistent attacks on the local government by gunmen.

She said, “In the past two months, over 10 villages in my local government have been attacked and many people killed, yet security personnel are here watching without doing anything to defend the people or arrest the gunmen.”

Recently another local government in Plateau state, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area was terrorized by gunmen who attacked some Christian villages with guns and then burned down homes and churches.

The attackers killed about 70 Christians in Plateau State, including one pastor.

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