At least eight people were confirmed dead on Wednesday following two separate attacks by gunmen in Kongo and Zarap communities of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
It is learned that among the victims was a member of the Community Peace Service from Bokkos LG, identified only as Kenneth Kadish.
It was also gathered that one of the attacks, which happened around 19:00, near the Congo community market, happened shortly after the market closed for the day.
While six people died instantly in the Congo community, in the neighboring community of Zarapi, two people were killed.
The Chairman of Community Peace Service in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, confirmed the two attacks in Jos on Wednesday.
The president said: “Armed men just came to Angwa community and Zarap community and attacked people on Tuesday night around 7:00 p.m. No one expected that an attack would be launched against people trying to forget the unpleasant experiences of previous attacks.
“In Angwa Kongo, people were relaxing and enjoying themselves because Tuesday was their market day when armed men appeared and opened fire on those who were standing. Six people died instantly and others were injured. Among the six people who died was my peace ambassador, Kenneth Kadish, who is a member of the Community Peace Service in Bokkos LGA.
“Then, in the community of Zarap, gunmen on motorcycles shot and killed two people who were standing in front of their houses. All the attacks and murders happened on Tuesday evening and followed the same pattern.”
The president, who condemned the attacks, said the matter had been reported to security agents. “We reported the attacks to the security agents because the place where the attack happened in the Angwa Congo community was not far from the security checkpoint. They came to check the place and I think they started investigations to identify the perpetrator of the attack and perhaps catch him,” the president said.
The latest attack adds to the growing insecurity in Bokkos LGA, where many communities have been repeatedly targeted, leaving residents in a constant state of fear and insecurity.
