By Ayo Kehinde
Outrage has trailed a fresh deadly attack on the Ngbra Zongo community in Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, where no fewer than 13 persons, including three pregnant women, were killed by gunmen during an overnight assault on Friday.
The attack reportedly occurred around midnight while residents were asleep, leaving several others injured after heavily armed assailants invaded the community and opened fire indiscriminately.
Residents said the attackers stormed the area in large numbers, shooting sporadically and forcing terrified villagers to flee for safety as the assailants moved from one house to another, attacking innocent people.
A resident of the community, Philip Alanga, who spoke to journalists in Jos on Friday, said the attack threw the entire community into panic.
“They came into the community and started shooting. They moved from one house to another, attacking innocent people”, Alanga stated.
Another resident, Chigoji Rocku, confirmed that three pregnant women were among those killed during the assault, describing the incident as heartbreaking and devastating for the community.
The Secretary General of the Irigwe Development Association (IDA), Mr Danjuma Auta, also confirmed the incident and condemned the killings, lamenting the recurring attacks on communities in Bassa LGA and other parts of Plateau State.
Auta called on security agencies to intensify efforts toward protecting lives and property, especially in vulnerable rural communities frequently targeted by armed attackers. He further urged security operatives to immediately track down the perpetrators and ensure they are brought to justice in order to deter future attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, officials of Operation Enduring Peace and the Plateau State Police Command had yet to respond to inquiries regarding the incident.
