Youths in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday blocked a road in protest over the deaths of over 10 people, reportedly killed by gunmen in various communities.
The gunmen reportedly attacked Barkin Ladi LGA on Sunday evening, adding to the state’s growing security crisis with several communities being targeted, leading to many deaths and displacements.
The protesters were joined by women and other sympathisers, demanding government action to stop the attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to one of the protesters, Samson Godiya, lamenting the situation, said, “We have suffered as a community for too long in the hands of these attackers whom we know to be Fulani herdsmmen.For how long shall we continue to be killed without anything being done to stop them.
“We can not continue like this. We are tired of promises by the government and security agents to protect us. If they can not live up to their promises, they should leave us alone .A situation where the security people will be there and at the same time ,can not stop the killers from having their way is what we can not understand.”
According to the report, the death toll in the latest wave of violent attacks in the community had risen to 10, following the recovery of additional bodies from affected communities in Barkin Ladi on Monday.
A community leader with the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the recovery of the bodies in Jos on Monday.
Tegwong said, “Yesterday evening, seven persons were brutally killed following an attack by armed Fulani Terrorists at Ratatis, Dorowa Babuje in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The attack occurred at about 7:27 pm, leaving three others seriously injured.
“This morning, two more dead bodies of community members were recovered from Dorowa Babuje, while another person was shot dead in Jol, Riyom local government council of the state.”
Tengwong said the victims were rushed to hospitals for treatment, and the injured are still getting care.
However, the roadblock by youths in protest over the terrible incident has stopped traffic from Shendam and Langtang to Jos, while those from Jos are waiting to pass.
Some of the protesters told reporters in separate interviews that the road would remain blocked, “until those who killed our people are brought to justice.”