At least 30 people have reportedly been killed and several others injured following a violent attack on Jwak Maitumbi community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday morning, also left more than 50 houses, shops, churches, health facilities and food barns burnt, while large quantities of crops were reportedly destroyed.
A resident and youth leader in the community, Lonji Zuhumnan, who confirmed the incident to Akelicious on Monday, said the attackers, numbering more than 100 and armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the community around 7:30am.
According to him, the gunmen opened fire on residents for several hours, forcing people to flee for safety as the attackers moved through the community.
Zuhumnan said residents later counted more than 30 bodies after the attackers withdrew, while an unspecified number of people sustained injuries.
He added that the assailants did not only target residents but also set ablaze homes, shops, churches and food storage facilities, destroying crops and other sources of livelihood.
The youth leader further alleged that repeated distress calls to security personnel in Mangu went unanswered while the attack was ongoing.
“While the assailants were having a field day, frantic calls made to security personnel in Mangu were futile as the soldiers did not come until the attackers had finished their mission and fled into the bushes and rocks,” he said.
