Over 40 people have been killed as bandits reportedly attacked Zurak village in Bashar District of Wase local government area of Plateau State, Northcentral Nigeria.
According to community residents, the incident occurred around 5:00 p.m. on Monday while people were engaged in their daily activities.
The residents mentioned that they couldn’t report the incident immediately due to the poor communication network in the area.
Sahpi’i Sambo, a youth leader in the area, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, stating that the bandits arrived at the community on motorcycles, with two riders per bike, and armed with sophisticated weapons, began shooting sporadically.
Sambo said, “More than 40 people were killed while many were injured. Residents of the village have fled to neighboring communities for cover. As of yesterday, security personnel had not yet arrived at the community. It was deadly.”
As of the time of reporting, DSP Alabo Alfred, the spokesperson of the state police command, had not responded to inquiries by the correspondent.
Security has deteriorated across Nigeria, with each region facing distinct forms of insecurity. In the South-east, gunmen linked to the Biafra agitation have been involved in various attacks and killings. Kidnapping has also become increasingly prevalent in this region.
In the South-south, militants and suspected kidnappers are rampant, frequently abducting oil workers and engaging in crude oil theft.
The North-central region is primarily troubled by the herders-farmers crisis, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands and displacement of many others.
In the Northeast, Boko Haram insurgents continue their violent attacks, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.
The North-west is plagued by terrorist attacks from bandits, leading to the deaths of hundreds and the displacement of millions. These various forms of insecurity highlight the diverse and severe challenges faced by Nigeria across its different regions.
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