11 including two pregnant women killed in Plateau community midnight attack 

No fewer than 11 persons, including two pregnant women, children and elderly residents, were killed in a midnight attack on Ngbra-Zongo village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Friday also left at least 10 other residents injured with gunshot wounds and machete cuts. Survivors included another pregnant woman, children and other villagers currently receiving treatment for varying degrees of injuries.

Among those killed were the community leader, Sunday Hwie, 60; Rikwe Danjuma, 37; Paul Musa, 35; Gabriel Sunday, 17; Eunice Samuel, 25, who was pregnant; Laraba Sunday, 29, also pregnant; three-year-old Festus Sunday; Sibi Friday, 23; Alheri Monday, 19; Friday Monday, 26; and Deh Sunday.

Those who survived the attack included Esi Sarki, 23; Yakubu John, 9; Ladi Sarki, 18, who is pregnant; Ladi Bitrus, 19; Amanda Sunday, 10; Danlami Gideon, 12; Baba Clement, 30; Jezriel Sunday, 8; Mary David, 4; and Monday Francis, 28.

Residents said the attackers stormed the community at midnight, shooting sporadically and attacking fleeing villagers with machetes, forcing many residents to escape into nearby bushes for safety.

The latest incident has heightened tension in Bassa Local Government Area, which has witnessed repeated attacks and killings in recent months, leading to displacement of families and destruction of property.

Danjuma Auta, Secretary of the Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN), confirmed the incident to BusinessDay in a telephone interview on Friday in Jos. He said the victims were mostly women, children and elderly residents caught unaware during the midnight invasion.

Auta said, “We received reports from the community early this morning that 11 persons were killed during the attack on Ngbra-Zongo village in Bassa. Several others sustained gunshot injuries and machete cuts and are currently receiving treatment”.

He added that, “Among those killed were pregnant women, children and the elderly.
The situation is tragic and the community is in deep mourning following the incident”.

Efforts to reach Alfred Alabo, the spokesperson of the Plateau state  Police command for official confirmation were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, for his numbers were not connecting.