Operation Safe Haven, a multi-security taskforce maintaining peace in Plateau State has confirmed that no fewer than 17 persons have been killed in a fresh attack by gunmen on Heipang Community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the attack occurred around 1am, when most residents of the community were asleep.
The Spokesperson of the Operation Safe Haven in the state, Captain Ola James, who confirmed the latest development on Thursday, 10 August, 2023, said troops of the operation had been deployed to the community.
“There was an early warning signal that some bandits could launch attacks in the area which prompted the operation to mount checkpoints in the area but the bandits followed another route, and attacked the community. Seventeen people l were confirmed killed. The commander of OPSH was in the attacked community.
“We suspect that it was a reprisal following the incident that happened in Monday. We have deployed our men to restore law and other in the area, ” the spokesperson added.
The State Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the northern zone, Mr John Mark Pam, who also confirmed the incident, said he had lost his brother.
The latest attack is coming three days after a commuter, who was returning from Kara, a cattle market in Bukuru was attacked and killed in the Heipang area.