The death toll from a late Monday attack on Garga community in Plateau State has risen to three, according to residents.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the community, located in Kanam Local Government Area, on motorcycles and opened fire on residents, killing one person instantly and injuring several others. Cattle were also reportedly rustled during the incident.
Residents said the attackers shot sporadically, triggering panic across the community, while local vigilantes and hunters mobilised in pursuit, though not before significant damage had been done.
The incident has heightened concerns over insecurity in the area, with residents calling for increased security presence to prevent further violence.
Meanwhile, residents have also raised alarm over the presence of bandits in neighbouring Birbiyang, less than 15 kilometres from Garga, urging security agencies to intervene urgently.
In a widely circulated WhatsApp message, residents appealed to the government to act swiftly to prevent further loss of lives, alleging that armed men were operating freely in Birbiyang, a federal ward under the Kantana area, without security intervention, leaving communities vulnerable.
The message noted that the proximity between Birbiyang and Garga highlights a troubling pattern of repeated attacks in neighbouring communities, which residents described as painful and unacceptable.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, said authorities were still working to ascertain the details of the incident.
“We’re still making efforts to get to the root of the matter. After that, we will get back to the public,” he said.
