Five people have been killed, several others injured and many houses burnt in separate attacks on communities in Riyom and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State.
While two people were killed in attacks in Riyom, three others were reportedly murdered in Mangu.
Residents from the affected communities in Mangu LGA told Daily Trust that several houses belonging to both herding and farming communities were burnt.
The leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Mangu and the National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) confirmed the incident.
The Secretary of MACBAN in the area, Musa Muhammad, said two herders, Salisu Abubakar and Yusuf Ali, were attacked and killed in their homes on Wednesday in Jwak Maitumbi, Halle Ward, Mangu.
He added that several houses belonging to members of the community were also burnt.
‘They were killed for an offence they knew nothing about,’ he said.
However, the MDA president, Bulus Dabit, said several houses belonging to their members were attacked and burnt.
He said one member of the association was killed while others were injured and hospitalised.
Dabit said the attacks affected communities along the Sabon Gari-Mangu Halle-Mai Rana-Arangai-Mararaban Kantoma axis, forcing some residents, especially women and children, to flee their homes.
4 communities attacked in Riyom
Two people were killed in separate attacks on four communities in Riyom LGA.
The spokesperson of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the attacks on Wednesday in Jos.
He said the attacks, which occurred on Tuesday night, were reported in at least four locations, including Gwa-Wereng Rim, Kyeng, Dorong and Jol.
A resident of the area, Lyop Gabriel, said the attack on Gwa-Wereng Rim occurred at about 9:30pm when gunmen invaded the community and opened fire on residents.
He said Bulus Mwagwong, popularly known as Dikko, was killed while his cousin, Yakubu, was injured.
The association said 47-year-old Stephen Dachollom Kaze was also killed in Kyeng village, Bachi District, at about 8:30pm.
BYM said another attack was recorded in Dorong, where attackers allegedly set houses ablaze, destroying property and forcing residents to flee.
Efforts to obtain confirmation or reaction from the security agencies were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.