Less than 48 hours to the celebration of Christmas, no fewer than 15 people were killed on Sunday by attackers in Gidan Ado village, Ganawuri Chiefdom of Riyom Local Government (LGA) of Plateau State.
It was gathered that the victims, which included a pregnant woman and children, were killed at about 8pm less than 34 hours after stakeholders heid security meeting for a peaceful yuletide.
National President of the Irigwe Youth Development Association Mr Ezekiel Bini confirmed the incident .
Bini, who condemned the attacks, described it as barbaric, saying the coordinated killing of the innocent persons less than 48 hours to the Christmas celebration is totally not acceptable.
He called on the security agencies and the government to immediately take measures to curtail any security challenge and protect the citizens ahead of the Christmas and new year celebration in the state.
The president described the incident as shocking, especially as the Plateau State Police Command had last week Thursday announced security measures ahead of the Christmas celebration.
The measures included restriction of night activities in five local government areas, including , from 6pm to 6am to avert security challenges.
Chairman of Riyom Local Government Hon. Sati Shuwa visited the village a company by his Deputy chairman Hon. Gwong Song
and Secretary Hon. Abraham Tongjing condemned the act and describing it as an evil.
Shuwa who attended the mass burial of the 15 persons killed including a pregnant woman and one year child , said it is sad especially when the local government held a security meeting with all stakeholders, security agencies, community Leaders on peaceful existence less then 24 hours before the incident happened.
He expressed sadness that despite the security meeting, the evil people went ahead and put tears in the heart of the villagers.
He disclosed that with the evidence on ground and the visit of the GOC to the scene drastic measures will be taken to arrest the perpetrators.
The First traditional ruler of Ganawuri Chiefdom Ata Aten HRH Yakubu Chaiman and the National President Ateng Development Association Clement Chup also condemned killing of the people.
No fewer than 300 people were killed on Christmas Eve of 2023, in coordinated attacks in Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas of the state.
