11 shot dead as Plateau boils again

Unknown gunmen have attacked Makera community in Riyom local government area of Plateau state, killing 11 persons.

Terna Tyopev, the spokesman of the state police command, confirmed this to TheCable.

He said the gunmen attacked the villagers while they were returning from the market on Tuesday night.

“Yesterday (Tuesday), at about 7:30pm, unknown gunmen attacked villagers who were coming back from Makera community and killed eleven persons with four injured,” he told TheCable on phone.

“Investigation into the incident has began and the DPO is there on the scene now.”

Recently, some parts of the state, especially in Riyom area have suffered incessant attacks by gunmen, a development the police spokesman said the command is trying its best to address.

Tyopev said the command had given special attention to the area.

“We are doing a lot. We have mobilised our men, especially in Riyom and the neighbouring communities. We are not only using the uniform policemen but also the detectives in plain clothes,” he said

“So we are doing so much. We have increased the number of policemen in the area.”

He asked members of the public to avail the command with useful information, adding: “If information is given to us, I’m sure we would unravel the mystery.”

TIMELINE OF RECENT ATTACKS IN PLATEAU STATE

• October 11: Gunmen attacked Wereh village in Barkin-Ladi, killing Moses Gwom, former Plateau head of service, and two other persons.
• October 15: Suspected herdsmen killed six people in Taagbe, a village in Bassa local government area.
• October 16: Twenty persons were reportedly killed when gunmen attacked villagers in Bassa local government area.
• October 25: Two persons were confirmed dead during an attack in Riyom local government area of Plateau state by yet to be identified gunmen.

The police are yet to announce any arrest made in any of the attacks.

President Muhammadu Buhari had condemned the killings and directed the military to intervene.