People have been killed in the state’s Bwoi District of Mangu Local Government Area, according to the Plateau Police.
Although the police have not yet confirmed the number of fatalities, other sources have said that suspected Fulani herdsmen raided the communities in the LGA and killed around 40 people, mostly women and children.
While verifying that there had been an attack in the region, the Plateau State Police Command issued the following statement through its public relations officer, DSP Alfred Alabo:
“The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka, has expressed his sorrow to the good people of Plateau State regarding the unfortunate incident that occurred in the Bwoi District of the Mangu LGA and claimed the lives of yet-to-be-identified persons from various villages nearby.
He claims, “On May 15, 2023, at around 11:56 a.m., one of our police officers in charge of Tanknale village in Mangu LGA received a distress call that some unknown gunmen are shooting irregularly in a nearby hamlet.
“Upon learning of this information, Bartolomew Onyeka, the Plateau State Command’s Commissioner of Police, promptly dispatched all Command resources to the scene in order to ensure that the culprits were apprehended and prosecuted.
“According to additional information from ACP Bawa Sale, the State CID’s assistant commissioner of police and an eyewitness to the incident, the hoodlums were given a very hot pursuit with assistance from other security agencies in the command.
He added, “Due to our strong firepower, the hoodlums abandoned roughly four motorbikes, which are now in the custody of the STF, one Sharon car with a Plateau State registration number (MGU 988 HK), as well as several things utilized for their nefarious activities.
The offenders are evading capture while our police continue to pursue them with the goal of neutralizing and, if feasible, arresting them.
The Plateau State Commissioner of Police assures the decent citizens of Plateau State that all essential precautions are being taken to maintain peace and prevent the recurrence of such heinous crimes.
The CP further exhorts State citizens to keep providing the Police with any and all relevant intelligence, as doing so will greatly aid the Police in their investigation.
He promised that “Further developments regarding the incident will be communicated to you in due course.”
