Three community vigilantes have reportedly been killed after gunmen attacked the NTV community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred at about 11pm on Tuesday while the vigilantes were reportedly on patrol, monitoring the community and protecting residents from possible attacks.
According to the spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders, Rwang Tengwong, the victims were volunteering to safeguard their community when the armed men opened fire on them.
Tengwong described the attack as a serious concern, particularly as the victims were providing security support to residents in an area where communities remain vulnerable to attacks.
He called on security agencies to increase patrols across vulnerable communities and conduct a thorough investigation to identify those behind the killings.
“The people cannot continue to live in fear while those volunteering to protect their communities are being killed,” he said.
A resident, Gabriel Ayuba, also confirmed the attack, saying the victims were keeping watch over the community when the gunmen opened fire.
Ayuba described the killings as tragic, noting that the men were carrying out community protection duties when they were attacked.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of community-based security volunteers who assist formal security agencies in protecting residents, particularly during nighttime patrols.
Tengwong urged residents to remain alert and promptly report suspicious movements to security authorities, stressing that protecting lives and property requires cooperation between communities and security agencies.
