Three people were feared killed, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries with some others missing after gunmen said to be Fulani bandits attacked mourners during a mass burial for victims of an earlier attack by the same bandits.
Eyewitnesses narrated that the mourners made up of friends, family, church and community members, had gathered on Wednesday to bury seven of their relatives, including five members of one family who were wiped out by the assailants in Nding Sesut community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Tuesday night.
According to the eyewitnesses, while the burial was going on at about 4.30pm, the attackers suddenly emerged from the surrounding bushes and opened fire on the mourners who had to flee in different directions.
By the time they were done, three people had reportedly died, while many others sustained injuries with some still unaccounted for.
Conflict journalist and social media personality, Masara Kim Usman, who was present at the scene, took to his Facebook page to confirm the incident which he described as not only scary, but chaotic and life-threatening.
He also gave an on-the-spot situation report just as the attack was ongoing.
“We just escaped from massive gunfire. It’s massive. It’s really, really massive,” Usman wrote.
“It’s coming from behind us. They’re shooting coming from the southern part of this community located in the farm district of Barkin Ladi.
“Seven people were killed here last night. And now there’s incoming fire; a mass of terrorists advancing. And we can see so many of them camping ahead of us.
“Looks like there’s not going to be any escape. We’re just going to have to try and get out of here. This will be the permanent home of seven members of a family martyred last night by terrorists,” he wrote.
He also shared a video showing terrorists advancing toward the burial ground shooting sporadically at the terrified mourners who were seen scrambling for safety as gunshots echoed across the area.
In the clip, voices could be heard urging people to take cover as the situation deteriorated rapidly, with mourners abandoning the graveside in panic with people seen running into nearby bushes and scattered directions as the sound of gunfire intensified.
A community youth, Wash Pam, who also shared the report on Facebook, said the attack threw the entire community into panic as mourners who had gathered to bury the victims were forced to flee for safety amid sustained gunfire and advancing armed men.
“We are under heavy attack by Fulani terrorists here in Nding. After killing seven people including five family members on Tuesday night, they are now preventing us from burying them.
“And there is no single security personnel. God save your people,” Pam wrote.
The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Bassey Ewah, who also confirmed the attack in a statement on Wednesday evening, condemned the killings which he described as senseless and uncalled for.
He also announced the deployment of additional tactical teams, including mobile police units to restore calm in the area, while assuring residents that investigations were underway and that the state Command was working with other security agencies and community leaders to track down the perpetrators.
Ewah urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives by providing credible information that could aid ongoing investigations.
Source: Daily post
