Three Fulani travelers sustained gunshot injuries after they were allegedly ambushed by suspected Berom militia members near Kassa in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, in the latest incident of attacks and reprisals across parts of the state.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on the evening of June 7 as the victims were returning from Kara Bukuru Market when they were reportedly intercepted and attacked by armed assailants.
The injured victims were identified as Ibrahim Idris, Samaila Usman and Yahuza Abdulmumi Alhaji Yako, all natives of Mangu Local Government Area.
According to the sources, the attackers allegedly identified the travelers as Fulani before opening fire on them, leaving them with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
The victims were subsequently evacuated for medical treatment and are currently receiving care.
The latest attack comes amid a series of incidents involving killings, attacks on livestock, cattle rustling and reprisal violence recorded across Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South, Bassa and Mangu Local Government Areas within the past two weeks.
Less than 24 hours before the Kassa attack, two persons, including a herder and a resident, were targeted and killed by Berom Militia in Sabon Gida community of Jos South Local Government Area.
Military sources said troops of Sector 6 under Operation Enduring Peace responded to reports of an attack on cattle in the community on June 6 and discovered the bodies of the victims with gunshot wounds.
Security personnel also recovered five dead cattle and four others suffering from gunshot injuries.
The bodies were evacuated by police personnel from Bukuru Division, while the injured cattle were handed over to relevant livestock officials.
The June 6 killings occurred shortly after another attack recorded in Kikyua II area of Mangu Local Government Area.
Security sources said one resident, identified as Muhammad Saidu, sustained gunshot wounds when suspected militia elements attacked cattle grazing in the area.
Troops responding to the distress call discovered that three cows had been killed while three others sustained gunshot injuries.
The victim was evacuated to a medical facility, while troops commenced efforts to track the attackers.
On June 5, troops of Sector 6 responded to another attack in Sabon Gida community where two cows were killed and a calf injured by armed assailants who fled before security personnel arrived.
The same day, troops of Sector 3 under Operation Enduring Peace recovered 28 cattle allegedly rustled from a herder identified as Idris Adamu around Gero community in Jos South Local Government Area.
Military sources said the animals were recovered after troops launched a search operation in surrounding mountainous areas, forcing the suspects to abandon the cattle and flee.
The livestock were subsequently returned to their owner.
Also on June 5, troops of Operation Safe Haven responded to reports of an attack around Nyerwie village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where one cow was found shot dead after armed assailants fled before security personnel reached the scene.
Security officials said efforts were immediately launched to identify and apprehend those responsible.
On June 1, another attack was reported in Torok village of Riyom Local Government Area, where one cow was killed by armed attackers.
Troops deployed to the area subsequently dominated the community with fighting patrols to prevent possible retaliatory attacks and maintain public order.
A day earlier, on May 31, troops of Sector 6 responded to reports of farmland destruction in Tongorong community, Riyom Local Government Area.
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