Eight persons, including an eight-month-old baby, have been killed by bandits who attacked Farin Lamba community in the Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
It was learnt that the toddler was killed alongside her father while they were returning from a hospital they had gone to for medical treatment.
The incident, according to an account, happened on Sunday night.
Confirming the killings in a statement on Monday, a youth leader for the Berom ethnic nationality in the state, Rwang Tengwong, said, “At about 9.45pm on Sunday night, eight persons, including an eight-month-old baby, were murdered by gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen at Farin Lamba, Vwang District of Jos South Local Government Area.
“The attackers, who came in a Vectra, shot sporadically at the victims who were heading home after the day’s activities.
“The eight-month-old baby, who was murdered with her father, was said to be returning from the hospital when she met her untimely death.”
The statement decried the continued insecurity in the state; noting that bandits had continued to unleash terror on innocent citizens in some communities of Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South, and Mangu Local Government Areas of the state in renewed attacks after the 2023 general elections.
Tengwong, however, expressed hope that the new General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigeria Army posted to the state would address the security challenge and restore confidence in the people.
“The pronouncement by the new General Officer Commanding 3 Armoured Division, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, during an on-the-spot assessment at Sabon Gari, Mangu Local Government Area a day after he took over as GOC, to ruthlessly deal with criminal elements and restore peace to communities that have experienced attacks in Plateau State and Joint Operation Area as a whole, is cheering news to us,” he said.
(Punch)
