Police, youth group disagree over Plateau mass burial attack claims

The Plateau State Police Command has refuted reports alleging that gunmen attacked mourners during a mass burial in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, insisting that no such incident took place.

In a statement signed by Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), on behalf of Bassey Ewah, the Commissioner of Police, Plateau state command and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Jos, the command described the report as misleading and not reflective of the situation on the ground.

There have been reports in national dailies, including BusinessDay, alleging that gunmen attacked mourners in Barkin Ladi, where villagers had gathered for a mass burial of victims of a previous attack.

“The Command wishes to categorically debunk this report in its entirety. At no time did the Plateau State Police Command record such an incident. The claims are grossly exaggerated, inaccurate, and do not reflect the true situation on the ground,” the statement said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the burial in question was conducted under strict security supervision. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), alongside his officers and other security agencies, was physically present at the venue throughout the ceremony, ensuring adequate security coverage and the safety of all attendees. The event was carried out without any attack as falsely reported,” it added.

The police maintained that there was no breach of security, noting that additional personnel, including mobile policemen, had been deployed to the area to sustain peace and forestall any potential threats.

The command urged members of the public to disregard the reports, warning that such publications could incite panic, while also advising media organisations to verify information from credible sources before dissemination.

However, the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) insisted that there was an attack during the mass burial, contradicting the police position and describing the situation as deeply troubling

According to the group, the community attacked the previous night came under fresh assault again on the same day, while parts of the neighbouring Rop District were also affected by violence.

In a telephone interview with BusinessDay on Wednesday in Jos, Rwang Tengwom, the group’s Publicity Secretary, further claimed that another nearby community recorded casualties, adding that two persons were killed in Zat community during the incident.

The group added that although the burial site itself came under attack, no deaths were recorded at the venue, but at least three persons sustained injuries as people fled for safety.

The development highlights conflicting accounts over the security situation in Plateau State, even as the police said additional personnel had been deployed to sustain peace and urged the public to disregard what it described as misleading reports.