Gunmen kill farmer, injure pastor in Plateau attack

Gunmen have killed a 36-year-old farmer and injured a pastor in an attack on a farm in Lamor community, Pushit District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, while another man has been reported missing.

The attack occurred on Wednesday afternoon, according to a community youth leader, Bulus Nehemiah, who confirmed the incident.

Mr Nehemiah identified the deceased as Steven Bala and the injured cleric as Apollos Charly, the owner of the farm where the attack occurred.

He said a 57-year-old man, Danbaba Libet, was also missing following the incident.

“During the attack on Pastor Apollos Charly’s farm, Steven Bala, aged 36, was killed by the gunmen. The pastor himself was injured, while another man, Mr Danbaba Libet, aged 57, is still missing,” Mr Nehemiah said.

He alleged that armed men suspected to be members of a militia had repeatedly attacked communities in Pushit District in recent weeks, disrupting farming activities during the harvest season.

“In the past few weeks, the gunmen have been terrorising our communities in Pushit, attacking and killing our people. They have prevented us from going to our farms, especially now that it is harvest season,” he said.

Another community leader, John Sabo, condemned the attack and called on security agencies to investigate the incident, apprehend those responsible and strengthen security in the area.

“We condemn this senseless attack in the strongest terms. No community should be subjected to this kind of violence, and innocent people should not continue to lose their lives,” Mr Sabo said.

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He urged security operatives to increase their presence in the affected communities to prevent further attacks and reassure residents of their safety.

Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful as the police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls or text messages sent to his phone.

The latest attack adds to security concerns in parts of Mangu Local Government Area, where community members have raised concerns about violence and restrictions on access to farmland.