At least four persons have reportedly been killed after youths suspected to be local indigenes blocked a road and attacked travellers along Nding axis of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In a post on X, a counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama said the incident happened shortly after an earlier reprisal assault in which gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias killed seven residents in Dorowa Babuje village of the state.
Makama further revealed that the incident occurred when a passenger i an Opel Vectra vehicle conveying civilians was intercepted by a group of youths who mounted a road blockade along Nding road.
It added that the assailants selected and attacked occupants of the vehicle, killing four persons on the spot.
According to the source, security forces later confirmed that five corpses were transported to Jos North, indicating that one additional victim may have died from injuries sustained during the attack.
Makama disclosed that two of the victims were identified as indigenes of Jos North, a development that has heightened tension in parts of the metropolis, particularly around the Terminus and Gangare areas where residents expressed concern over possible reprisals.
“The sources believe the Nding road incident may have been a retaliatory action triggered by news of the earlier killings, which spread rapidly across nearby communities before security agencies could fully stabilise the situation.
One security official said the road attack occurred hours after gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits on a revenge mission opened fire on residents at a local gathering spot in Dorowa Babuje, killing seven persons and injuring two others.
“The attacks followed closely on the heels of other deadly attacks recorded within days on Fulani communities by attackers suspected to be Berom militia across Barikin Ladi and Riyom General areas in Plateau state,” Makama said.
Tension in Plateau over attack by suspected Fulani gunmen
