40 dead, many injured as Bandits attack Plateau community

By Innocent Raphael

Tragedy struck the Wase local government area of Plateau State on Monday evening when a large group of armed bandits attacked Zurak village, resulting in the deaths of over 40 people and numerous injuries.

Several homes were also set ablaze during the assault.

The attack reportedly occurred around 7:00 p.m. when the assailants, riding motorcycles and wielding sophisticated weapons, stormed the village and indiscriminately opened fire on residents.

Abdullahi Musa, an eyewitness who managed to escape the onslaught, recounted the suddenness of the attack.

He noted that the local vigilantes who attempted to repel the attackers were quickly overpowered by the heavily armed bandits.

“The attack came as a surprise because we had no prior conflict with them. They came in large numbers and shot at everyone they saw, killing more than 40 people, mostly vigilantes. Several houses were burned during the attack,” Musa said.

He added that poor communication networks delayed the alert to security agencies, resulting in a slow response.

The attack, which lasted for over an hour, left many residents, particularly women, injured – with these individuals said to be currently receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital.

Mallam Sahpi’i Sambo, a youth leader in the area, confirmed the incident, stating that the bandits’ arrival on motorcycles led to a devastating outcome, with more than 40 fatalities and numerous injuries.

In the aftermath of the attack, the community has been deserted, with residents fleeing to neighboring areas and the local government headquarters for safety.

Efforts to reach DSP Alfred Alabo, the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, for comments on the incident were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.