Palpable fear has gripped communities in Plateau State after terrorists attacked Zurak and Bankalala villages in Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, killing more than 50 residents, including vigilantes, and injuring others in the process.
The incident which occurred on Monday night had several houses also razed down by the attackers.
A local farmer residing in the community, Sani Mai-Angwa, said that the terrorists arrived at about 8pm on motorcycles – in two to a bike commando style, with sophisticated weapons and started shooting sporadically at everyone on sight.
He said people were still going about their normal activities in early night hours when the bandits struck, but they could not report the incident due to the poor telephone communication network in the area.
The eye witness who described the incident as a deadly attack said, “More than 50 people were killed, others were injured and many residents of the village have fled to neighbouring communities to have a cover.”
According to Mai-Angwa, the DSS on regular security patrol had just left the area before the attack and as of yesterday (Monday), security personnel had not yet arrived at the community.
Those killed were said to have been buried, even as many other people are missing. Many residents were also said
to have fled the community.
A traditional ruler in Wase, Alhaji Ahmed Lawal, said the death toll had risen to 50 persons, adding that the victims had since been buried in the area according to Muslim rites.
A traditional ruler in the area and Tafi dan Zurak, Lawan Idris, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Tuesday, saying: “We have buried more than 50 people now. We are continuing with the burial because we have not finished. Search Operation is ongoing to recover other bodies. They killed many people, including our children.”
He said the arrival of security personnel at 4:30pm Tuesday had made it possible for the fleeing residents to return.
According to him: “Half of the residents of the community had fled to Kampani, but they have started coming after hearing that security personnel have arrived at the community.
“Our major problem is security. If we will have adequate security, we will remain in our community. People earlier fled
because there was no security.”
Sahpi’i Sambo, a youth leader in the area, said that the terrorists arrived on motorcycles with sophisticated weapons and started shooting sporadically.
“On Monday morning, security personnel including operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), Police and local vigilantes launched an attack on the terrorists’ den, a thick bush located some kilometres from Zurak and cleared the area.
“So, while the combined security operatives were returning to Bashar, members of the vigilante group decided to stop at Zurak to eat before meeting up with the other security operatives who had proceeded to Bashar town.
“We believe that the terrorists followed the vigilantes to the attacked community after hearing that the security
operatives had left the vigilantes, and the situation would give the terrorists the opportunity to attack the vigilantes, knowing that they were not armed.”