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| Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar |
The peaceful atmosphere that pervaded
the Christmas celebration in Plateau State was shattered on Wednesday
when two persons were reportedly killed while 16 others were wounded
when a group of gunmen invaded the Church of Christ in Nations on the
eve of the New Year at Maiakworigold Maikatako village in Bokkos Local
Government Council of Plateau State.
One other person was said to have been
killed in Manguna area of Bokkos Local Government of the state in the
early hours of Wednesday.
The third victim in Manguna area of the same local council area was said to have been killed by the retreating gunmen.
One of the eyewitnesses, Mr. Augustine
Bim, told newsmen that during the service to usher in the New Year, some
gunmen stormed the church and started to shoot at different
directions.
He said that the casualties were recorded when the worshippers started escaping through various directions.
Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Titus Alams, who confirmed the incident, described it as unfortunate.
Alams, who is the member representing
Bokkos State constituency, said that five of the victims were currently
on admission at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital.
He said they were in a stable condition while 11 people were receiving treatment at Barkin Ladi General Hospital.
While commending the security
operatives for their prompt response, he also urged them to do
everything possible to fish out the perpetrators of this act.
He said, “This latest incident is
regrettable because we have been doing a lot to sustain the current
peace we are enjoying in the state. We are appealing to security agents
to do everything in their power to fish out those responsible for this
heinous crime against humanity.”
Alams appealed to the youths of Bokkos
to remain calm and not to take the law into their own hands. He also
urged them to report any suspicious movement to law enforcement agents
in their area.
While reiterating the importance of
safeguarding themselves against further attacks, the Speaker urged the
people to avoid making themselves vulnerable to attack by congregating
in large numbers at any point at night
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