At least 13 people have been killed in separate attacks on communities in Jos South, Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
Nine of the victims were passengers travelling to Jos when gunmen opened fire on their vehicle at Dungus community in the Jos South Local Government Area on Sunday night.
Four others were killed in separate attacks in Mangu and Riyom local government areas.
The Dungus attack occurred at about 9:40pm, according to Rwang Tengwong, spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders, who confirmed the incident in Jos on Monday.
Tengwong said some of the passengers sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to hospitals, where some later died.
One of those killed in the Dungus attack was a member of Operation Rainbow, according to Tengwong.
“It is a very sad development and we lament the loss of lives,” he said.
A resident, Musa Dauda, also said that some of the injured passengers died while receiving treatment.
He said others remained in hospital as of Monday.
In the Mangu Local Government Area, suspected attackers reportedly stormed Vodni in Pushit District during the night and killed two people.
Four others sustained gunshot injuries and were receiving treatment at a hospital in Mangu town.
Two more people were reportedly killed in a separate attack at Tahoos in Riyom Local Government Area around the same period.
The Plateau State government, however, condemned the attacks and urged residents not to retaliate.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the government said it had received reports of attacks in Mangu on Saturday, September 12, as well as the incident at Dungus Junction in Kuru, Jos South, on Sunday, September 13.
The government said the attacks were particularly disturbing as it continued to work with security agencies, traditional institutions and community leaders to strengthen security through dialogue, intelligence sharing and community engagement.
It also urged residents in affected communities to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible and timely information that could help prevent further attacks and lead to the arrest of those responsible.
The latest killings add to the security challenges facing communities in Plateau State, where authorities have continued to rely on security operations, community engagement and intelligence sharing to prevent attacks and contain violence.
