Eight persons were killed on Monday evening at Kwoi community, Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, Northcentral Nigeria during a gun battle between some gunmen and security operatives.
A Policeman and a vigilante paid the supreme sacrifice in the encounter. But six of the gunmen were killed.
The Policeman, Abdulrahaman Isah, was identified as the Commander, IGP’s Intelligence Response Team based in Mangu while the name of the vigilante was given as Hassan Mohammed.
President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, North East Nigerian Conference, Joshua Mallum, at a press conference in Jos on Tuesday condemned the continued violence in Plateau State, lamenting that “a killer is a criminal. Hence, government must put all ethnic and religious sentiments aside in dealing with these merchants of death threatening our collective peace and existence in Plateau and Nigeria.”
Spokesperson of Plateau State Police Command, Ubah Ogaba, confirmed the Mangu killings in a statement in Jos on Tuesday
Ogaba said, “On 23/08/2021 at about 1400hrs, the Command received credible information about the activity of a notorious syndicate of gunrunners at Kwoi Village, in Mangu LGA of the State. On receipt of the information, the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) based in Mangu, Police Operatives attached to Mangu Division, STF and local vigilante were mobilized and swiftly raced to the area.
“On sighting the team, the hoodlums engaged them in a gun duel. But because of the tactical operational capability and superior gunfire of the Operatives, six of the hoodlums were neutralized while others fled with various degrees of bullets wounds.
“Exhibits recovered from them include Three AK 47 Rifles with Breach Nos 868, 106076 and 123487.
“Regrettably, one Inspector Abdulrahaman Isah who is the Commander IGP’s Intelligence Response Team based in Mangu and one Hassan Mohammed a local vigilante gallantly paid the supreme price.”
The Police Spokesperson added that investigation into the incident has since commenced.