At least 10 persons have been killed and another 20 belived to have been injured, when gunmen stormed a cultural festival in Chando Zerreci community in Irigwe Chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Mr Lawrence Zango, National Publicity Secretary, Irigwe Youth Movement, said in a statement on Sunday in Jos, the state capital, that the gunmen began the attack on Saturday night during the annual Zerreci festival that ushers in the new farming season.
Recall that at the weekend, a viral message had cautioned travellers to avoid the area because of the violence.
Zango described tragic incident as sa sad adding that the injured were receiving treatment in an hospital in Miango.
“The government has a responsibility to promote and protect human rights, including the right to life, and a duty to protect civilians from attacks by taking effective measures to prevent and deter attacks on our people.
“The government must as a matter of urgency investigate the attack in Irigwe land and bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure that families, and other victims are adequately compensated
“Brutal attacks on our communities are becoming rampant and frequent and this is unacceptable. Government must take more concrete steps to protect lives and property across Iregwe chiefdom and neighboring communities,” he said.
It is not clear if Fulani militants are behind the attack this time around, but they have often being fingered in similar ones in the past, while Irigwe youths have been accused of taking the laws into their hands to carry out retaliatory attacks, like the one that led to the death of over 20 Fulani travellers over a year ago.
Just last week, the Irigwe accused soldiers of looking on while their people were been killed by militants. They claimed that the soldiers, who were nearby said they were not given marching orders to engage.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Ubah Ogaba, confirmed the attack, adding that the command had mobilised armed officers to the affected community to restore normalcy.
He called on residents of the area and the state in general to remain calm and law- abiding, assuring that security agencies are working seriously to ensure their safety