Plateau attacks: Women, children flee Barkin Ladi as gunshots persist

Tension has gripped Dorowa Bubuje community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, as women and children are being evacuated from the area following renewed gunshots reportedly heard from the direction of Kantoma.

The development has forced residents to retreat from parts of the community, with groups of women and children moving to safer locations as security personnel continue efforts to contain the situation.

Lawrence Shong, a member of the community, told Vanguard that gunshots had continued in the Kantoma area, prompting residents to gather and move away from locations considered vulnerable to attack.

“As I speak to you, at about 12:15pm on Sunday, we are still hearing sounds of gunshots,” he said.

According to him, “Women and children are currently being evacuated because of the ongoing attack. We are still hearing gunshots, and this is forcing people to retreat.”

“Currently, our people are gathering and moving away from this place. The women and children are being taken to safer locations.”

He lauded the military for  repelling attacks in some other communities in the local government..

Meanwhile, spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders, BYM, Rwang Tengwong, who was at the community, told Vanguard that the situation remained tense, with residents moving away from areas considered vulnerable.”

Tengwong said the continued gunshots had heightened anxiety among residents and forced families to seek safer locations.”

He said, “Currently, women and children are being evacuated from this place because of the ongoing attack. “

“We are still hearing gunshots from the direction of Kantoma, and that is forcing people to retreat.”

“That is why you are seeing people gathering and moving away. The women and children are the first people being moved to safer locations.”

“Military personnel have been drafted to the community, and what we need now is sustained security deployment to protect the people and prevent further attacks.”

Tengwong commended the military and other security operatives for their response, saying their intervention helped prevent further escalation.

He appealed for sustained security presence in the affected communities, saying this would enable residents to return to their homes without fear.

Efforts to reach security operatives for further details were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Our correspondent reports that  alt least nine persons have been killed in separate attacks in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and neighbouring communities in Plateau State between Saturday night and Sunday morning, with tensions mounting in the affected areas.

Five of the victims were passengers travelling to Gana-Ropp in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area when they were attacked on Saturday night, while two others, including a pastor, were reportedly killed while on their way to church at Dorowa Babuje on Sunday morning.