There was renewed tension in Nasarawa State on Tuesday as suspected bandits reportedly killed three youths from Migil community in the Keana Local Government Area, despite repeated warnings by the state government against criminal activities.
It was gathered that the victims were ambushed along the Gidan-Raid Road while on an errand to deliver news of the death of an elder statesman to relatives in a neighbouring community.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants opened fire on the youths without provocation, killing them on the spot before fleeing into nearby bushes.
The latest incident comes barely days after gunmen invaded Sarkin Noma, another settlement in the area, where two youths were murdered and one person abducted. The abductee is said to still be in captivity.
The recurring attacks have heightened tension among residents, many of whom have fled their homes for fear of further violence.
Community leaders and youth groups have called for urgent government intervention and appealed to security agencies to intensify patrols in the area.
The three victims, who hailed from Duduguru in the Jenkwe Development Area, were buried in a mass grave on Tuesday morning amid tears and grief from relatives and friends.