- The Chairman of Mwaghavul Development Association, Joseph Gwankat, also confirmed the killing, describing it as callous
Gunmen believed to be bandits have tragically claimed the lives of over 30 individuals in Kwahaslalek village, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, despite the enforcement of a 24-hour curfew.
This recent attack occurred on January 24, 2024. The victims, predominantly women and children, sought refuge in a community leader’s house on Tuesday night amid earlier unrest in Mangu town, only to be surrounded and mercilessly killed by the assailants.
A community leader in the area, Mark Haruna, giving an account of the incident on Wednesday in JOS told The PUNCH that; “What happened at Sabon Gari and Mangu town yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) was just a distraction so that the attention of the people will be shifted away from the villages.
“For the second time, my village Kwahaslalek (behind NYSC camp) came under attack by gunmen yesterday (Tuesday)night. They came at about 12:30 am and killed over 25 people, mostly women and children.”
The Chairman of Mwaghavul Development Association, Joseph Gwankat, also confirmed the killing, describing it as callous.
“I couldn’t sleep last night as a result of what happened in Mangu town during the day yesterday. Now, I have just been told Kwahaslalek village was attacked last night and about 30 people were killed .
“From what I was told, the unrest in Mangu town yesterday created fears in many communities. Some people in the village went and evacuated their loved ones and assembled them in a place where they thought was safe.
“So in the night, the killers went to Kwahaslalek village where the people mostly women and children were assembled and killed all of them,” he said.
The chairman who condemned the killing added, “I was told that no security was on ground to save the villagers. This act is pure wickedness. How can people who are in their villages be targets of constant attacks and killings without anything being done to stop the perpetrators?”
The spokesman for the state police command, Alabo Alfred, said he had yet to get the report of the incident when contacted.