9 reportedly killed, 7 hospitalised as bandits raid Plateau village hours after Tinubu rally

An attack occurred on Tuesday night at the Maikatako village, Bokkos local government area of Plateau state leaving about nine people dead and seven others injured.

Although the attackers have left the community the area is still tense as the incident rattled residents.

“The attack happened on Tuesday night, mostly women and children were killed,” Vanguard quoted native Godwin Malan to have said.

“Vigilantes were able to repel the attackers but they had already burnt a compound and no one knew that people were still inside the compound.

“The casualties were from that compound. The community contacted security, and they came but it was already late.”

The attack happened on the same day the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, flagged off his campaign in the state capital, Jos. There is no evidence linking both events. Although President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC has dealt with Boko Haram terrorists, he seemed to be lost on how to address the scourge of village-raiding bandits who are notorious for attacking farming settlements and kidnapping for ransom.

During his rally, Tinubu promised to deal with insecurity, illiteracy, hunger and Nigeria’s chronic energy crisis.

“It is true that an incident happened there. The DPO there responded with his team and were able to push back the bandits but some people sustained injuries and were taken to hospital,” state police spokesperson Alfred Alabo said.

“As of yesterday, about seven people with gunshot wounds were taken to the hospital, our men are still tracing the bandits so I can’t reach the DPO on the phone for an update. I don’t want to give inaccurate information but once I speak with the DPO about the death of some people, I will let you know.”