PLATEAU VIOLENCE LEAVES 15 DEAD IN SERIES OF TERRORIST ATTACKS

At least 15 people have been killed in separate attacks carried out by suspected terrorists in parts of Plateau State, with nine passengers reportedly among those targeted along a major road. The attacks have renewed concerns over the security situation in communities across the state.

The attackers reportedly intercepted a commercial vehicle carrying passengers along the Barkin Ladi-Bokkos road. Two clerics, including Pastor Hills Emmanuel, were abducted after the vehicle was stopped, while the other passengers were reportedly dispossessed of their phones and cash before being released.

Pastor Emmanuel, a former Dunamis Church pastor and founder of The Wonderful Grace of God Evangelical Ministry in Bokkos, was later found dead close to the area where he was abducted. His colleague, Pastor Gabriel Joseph Dipak of the Christ Apostolic Church, was still being held by the attackers at the time of the report.

Other attacks were reported in communities across Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Mangu Local Government Areas. A woman was killed in Fang village, while two other people were reportedly killed in Radura village, with another attack recorded in Chakfem. The incidents occurred within the same period, raising fears among residents over coordinated attacks.

The latest violence has added to the security concerns in Plateau State, where several communities have suffered attacks and displacement. Residents and community leaders have continued to call for stronger security measures to protect lives and property, particularly along vulnerable roads and rural communities.