At least 13 people have been killed in a fresh attack by gunmen on Ngbra Zongo community in Kwall District of Plateau State’s Bassa Local Government Area.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, left several other residents injured and forced many families to flee their homes in panic.
Residents said the assailants stormed the village around midnight, shooting sporadically before attacking villagers with machetes and other dangerous weapons. The sudden assault threw the community into chaos as people ran into nearby bushes to escape.
A community member, Philip Alanga, who spoke in Jos, said the gunmen moved from house to house, targeting helpless residents.
According to him, the attackers arrived at about 12 a.m. and unleashed violence on innocent villagers, killing and injuring several people in the process.
“They came into the community around midnight and started shooting and hacking people to death,” he said.
“They moved from one house to another, attacking innocent people.”
Another resident, Chigoji Rocku, disclosed that three pregnant women were among those killed during the invasion, a revelation that has deepened concerns over the worsening security situation in rural parts of the state.
He added that many residents survived only by fleeing into surrounding bushes, while several of the injured were rushed for medical attention.
The Secretary-General of the Irigwe Development Association, Danjuma Auta, confirmed the attack and described the killings as tragic and condemnable.
The latest incident has once again raised fears among residents of communities in Plateau State, where repeated attacks have continued to claim lives, destroy property and displace families. Community leaders have called on security agencies and the government to urgently strengthen protection in vulnerable rural settlements to prevent further bloodshed.
