Youths in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State on Monday blocked the major highway linking the area to Jos in protest against the killing of residents during fresh attacks by gunmen that began on Sunday evening.
Gatekeepers News reports that the protest followed a series of coordinated assaults on communities in Ratatis and Dorowa Babuje, where at least 10 people were reportedly killed, while several others sustained serious injuries.
Reports indicated that seven people were initially killed during the attack on Sunday night, with three others left critically wounded. By Monday morning, two more bodies were recovered from Dorowa Babuje, while another resident was shot dead in Jol community in neighbouring Riyom Local Government Area.
The angry protesters, made up mainly of youths and women, barricaded the road, causing a major traffic disruption for commuters travelling from Shendam, Langtang, and surrounding areas to Jos.
They rejected appeals by security operatives and community leaders to reopen the highway, insisting they would not leave until those behind the attacks are arrested and prosecuted.
Speaking during the protest, Samson Godiya, one of the demonstrators, lamented the persistent violence and what he described as the failure of authorities to provide lasting security.
He said residents had endured repeated attacks and empty assurances for too long, adding that the community had lost patience over the continued bloodshed and lack of decisive action.
A leader of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, also described the attackers as terrorists and expressed concern over the rising death toll.
He said the frequency and brutality of the assaults had created deep fear and frustration among residents, who now feel abandoned and unsafe in their own communities.
As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while security personnel were reportedly deployed to the area to restore calm and ensure the safety of lives and property.
