Fresh violence has erupted in Plateau State as suspected bandits launched a midnight assault on Pwomol village in Heipang District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, leaving at least two persons dead, several others injured, and property destroyed.
The attack, which occurred late Sunday, April 5, saw the assailants storm the community under the cover of darkness, opening fire on residents and setting houses and food barns ablaze, sparking panic and mass displacement.
The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, confirmed the incident, describing it as a coordinated and brutal raid carried out by heavily armed attackers.
According to him, the gunmen invaded the village around midnight, shooting indiscriminately and killing two youths, while many others sustained injuries in the chaos as they fled into nearby bushes for safety.
Mwantiri further disclosed that the incident marked the second attack on the community within a week, raising fresh concerns over escalating insecurity in the area.
He added that one of the suspected attackers, identified simply as Suleiman and said to be from Fass community in Riyom Local Government Area, was apprehended shortly after the incident.
The suspect, who reportedly had blood stains on his body at the time of arrest, was nabbed around the Redemption Camp axis between Heipang and Kassa and has since been handed over to security operatives at Sector 4 in Barkin Ladi.
Calling for swift justice, the youth leader urged security agencies to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the attack, insisting that the arrested suspect must provide actionable intelligence to aid the arrest of other perpetrators.
He also commended the prompt response of the Special Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, while appealing to residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies with credible information to prevent further attacks.