No fewer than 17 people, including children, have reportedly been killed by gunmen who attacked Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to reports, the attack by the gunmen took place in the Heipang community of the LGA in the early hours of Thursday and left several others with various degrees of gunshot wounds.
Speaking to newsmen, a grieving parent in the community, Julius Pam, confirmed the attack on Thursday.
Commenting on the gunmen attack, Pam said, “Good morning, sir. On a sad note, there was an attack early this morning in the Heipang community. A total of 17 people were killed, including my brother, his wife, and their children, all killed”.
At the time of filing this report, Alabo Alfred, the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, was unavailable for comment on the attack by the unknown gunmen, but sources at the command headquarters claimed security operatives had been deployed to the town.
Meanwhile, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has inaugurated a Security and Information Centre to improve communication of security-related information to the appropriate authorities for fast action.
The governor stated in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, that the Plateau State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency established the center to bridge the communication gap between the general public and the government.
The governor added that the effort will allow the government to quickly receive early warning signs and intervene, as well as seek feedback on state development issues.
He encouraged residents to report security concerns in their areas with confidence, knowing that all information would be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
“Operating around the clock, the center is geared towards efficient and effective service delivery, enabling citizens to report any issues relevant to the state”, the statement added.
