In a harrowing onslaught that has sent shockwaves across Plateau State, bandits descended upon Zurak village in the Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.
Reports indicate that more than 40 innocent lives, including vigilant members of the community, were tragically cut short in the merciless attack.
Eyewitnesses recount a scene of terror unfolding around 5:00 pm on Monday, as unsuspecting residents went about their daily routines.
The bandits, reportedly arriving on motorcycles in significant numbers, launched a ruthless assault with sophisticated weaponry, unleashing a hail of bullets indiscriminately upon the peaceful village.
Sahpi’i Sambo, a youth leader in the community, described the horror of the attack, revealing that the assailants operated with impunity, inflicting widespread carnage as residents fled for their lives.
“More than 40 people were killed while many others sustained grievous injuries,” Sambo lamented, underscoring the scale of the tragedy that has befallen Zurak village.
In the aftermath of the brutal assault, residents, traumatized and displaced, sought refuge in neighboring communities, grappling with the trauma of the bloodshed that has shattered their once tranquil existence.
Shockingly, despite the severity of the situation, security personnel were notably absent from the scene, leaving the beleaguered villagers to fend for themselves in the face of unprecedented violence.
As the community mourns the loss of loved ones and grapples with the aftermath of this heinous act, questions linger over the efficacy of security measures and the urgent need for swift action to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further bloodshed.
With the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, yet to respond to inquiries, the fate of Zurak village serves as a grim reminder of the persistent threat posed by criminal elements and the pressing need for concerted efforts to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of all citizens.