From Yakubu Wuyep, Jos
Over 100 armed gunmen stormed Rangarasa village in the Rantya community of Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State, on Wednesday night, and killed two local vigilante security personnel.
The Plateau State people are living in tension and fear of the unknown everyday, as insecurity challenges face them.
Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, riding in groups of three to four, and firing rifles indiscriminately as they attempted to gain access to the community through the Rangarasa axis.
A resident, John Mancha, said that the attack threw the entire community into panic, forcing residents to remain awake throughout the night.
He explained that local vigilantes quickly mobilised to defend the area, but were overrun by the attackers’ superior firepower.
In their effort to contain the attack, two members of the vigilante group, who were identified as Joshua and Emmanuel, were killed.
The deceased reportedly left behind young families, with Joshua survived by four children, while Emmanuel’s wife recently gave birth through the Cesarean Section.
Mancha also expressed concern over what he described as a delayed response from security agencies, alleging that security personnel only arrived on Thursday morning, after the attackers had fled.
Residents have appealed to the government and security agencies to strengthen protection in vulnerable communities and prevent further attacks.
As at the time of filing this report, the State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
However, the Command announced that the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Training and Development and Coordinating DIG for the North Central Zone, Isyaku Mohammed, is expected to visit Plateau State to assess security concerns, and engage officers on operational readiness.