A violent incident occurred in Plateau State, Nigeria, on Tuesday, despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the state government to restore law and order. Three vigilantes were reportedly killed at the Kyikyau-Gyambwas boundary in Mangu Halle District of Mangu Local Government Area. The victims, identified as Samson Dachet, 45; Gambo Fwangyil, 50; and Zughumnan Bamaiyi, 35, were attacked at about 7:49pm while keeping watch over the community.
The incident occurred on the same day gunmen killed four people, including a police officer, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The killings have raised concerns over the effectiveness of the curfew in protecting rural communities. The Mwaghavul Youth Movement questioned the curfew's impact, stating that armed attackers could still move and attack communities during restricted hours.
The Mwaghavul Youth Movement, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Tubwot Joel Sunday, confirmed the Tuesday night attack. The group expressed concerns that the curfew had not been effective in preventing attacks. The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, also criticized the curfew, alleging that attackers were taking advantage of the restriction to target communities, particularly those located around boundaries.
The violence in Plateau State has resulted in dozens of deaths, including women, in recent days. The state government imposed the curfew in Mangu, Bokkos, and Barkin Ladi local government areas to restore law and order. However, the recent incidents have raised fresh concerns over the safety of rural communities and the effectiveness of the curfew.
In another incident, two miners were killed at Gangare community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area on Wednesday. The victims were carrying out mining activities when gunmen attacked them at about 5:20pm. The spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident, which caused grief among residents.
A member of the Gangare community, Mrs Martha Dalyop, urged security operatives to investigate the killings and other recent incidents of violence in the state. She called for those responsible to be brought to justice. The spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh, said he had noted the inquiry into the incident.
The Plateau State Police Command has yet to comment on the recent incidents. The spokesperson, SP Alabo Alfred, did not respond to inquiries from Daily Trust. The continued violence and killings in Plateau State have raised concerns over the security situation in the state and the effectiveness of the measures in place to protect rural communities.
Key points
- Three vigilantes were killed in Plateau State despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew.
- The killings have raised concerns over the effectiveness of the curfew in protecting rural communities.
- Dozens of people, including women, have been killed in the affected local government areas in recent days.
