Three vigilantes were killed in separate attacks at the Kyikyau-Gyambwas boundary in Mangu Halle District of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, despite a government-imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew.
The victims were attacked around 7:49pm on Tuesday, during the hours when residents were expected to remain indoors under the restriction. Their deaths followed another deadly incident in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where gunmen reportedly killed four people, including a police officer, earlier the same day.
The attacks occurred barely 24 hours after the Plateau State Government introduced curfews in Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi LGAs in response to escalating violence. These measures have done little to ease fears in the affected communities, where dozens of people, including women, have reportedly been killed in recent days.
The Mwaghavul Youth Movement confirmed the Mangu killings, saying the victims were serving as community guards when the attackers struck. They were identified as Samson Dachet, Gambo Fwangyil, and Zughumnan Bamaiyi.
In a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs, Tubwot Joel Sunday, the group expressed concern that the curfew had not prevented armed men from entering communities and carrying out attacks at night.
Bulus Dabit, National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, similarly faulted the measure, saying villages remained exposed despite the restrictions. He alleged that attackers were exploiting the curfew to strike isolated settlements, especially those close to local government boundaries.
Five Herders Killed in Plateau as Government Imposes Curfew
Mining Site Attack Leaves Two Dead in Barkin Ladi
Two miners were also reportedly killed at Gangare community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The incident took place at approximately 5:20pm on Wednesday, raising fresh concerns about the security of mining locations and other rural settlements in the area.
Rwang Tengwong, spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, said the victims were working at the mining site when gunmen opened an attack on them. A resident, Mrs Martha Dalyop, corroborated the report, stating that both men were killed while carrying out mining activities. She urged security authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the latest deaths and the wider pattern of attacks across Plateau State, and to prosecute those found responsible.
Captain Polycarp Oteh, spokesman for Operation Enduring Peace, acknowledged the inquiry when contacted. The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred, had not responded to requests for comment by the time of filing this report.
