Gunmen kill 11 in Plateau village

Gunmen opened fire on some residents of Rim in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State Tuesday night, killing 11 people and injuring several others.

The victims were traders returning from a weekly village market of Makera when they were attacked by the gunmen in military uniform.

The Police Public Relations Office of the Plateau State Police Command, Terna Tyopev, who confirmed the incident, cautioned members of the community not to carry out any reprisal attacks especially since the identity of the gunmen were yet to be determined.

The Tuesday attack came a couple of weeks after Wereh, Foron and Rim in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) as well as Miango, Jebu, Taegbe and Ncha in Bassa LGA were similarly attacked.

Reacting yesterday, Governor Simon Lalong condemned the latest incident and appealed to the Federal Government for power to state governors to deploy security personnel in troubled areas.

Lalong said through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dan Manjang, “The governor is the chief security of the state, but he doesn’t have the power to deploy any security officer.”

Also reacting, the member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Labour and Security, Hon. Daniel Dem said the entire LGA had come under siege.

“Some weeks back, some tribe complained that one of their member was killed which we don’t know and they said they were going to attack this community,” he said.