Suspected gunmen have ambushed commuters along the road leading to Belsho community in Sho District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing four people, including a Nigerian Army soldier, and injuring two others.
The deadly incident reportedly occurred on the evening of Sunday, November 8, when the armed assailants opened fire on travellers along the road, leaving several people dead and others injured.
It was gathered that troops of Sector 4, Operation Enduring Peace, responded to the attack following reports of the incident and subsequently recovered the bodies of the victims.
Among those killed was a Nigerian Army soldier who was reportedly returning to his military base when he was caught in the ambush. The soldier was killed alongside three other commuters who were travelling along the route at the time of the attack.
The two injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Barkin Ladi, where they received medical attention.
Meanwhile, some local accounts have attributed the attack to suspected Fulani herders, although there has been no independent confirmation of the identities of the assailants or an official statement establishing those responsible for the killings.
Following the attack, troops of Operation Enduring Peace reportedly launched a manhunt for the suspected gunmen, with efforts underway to track down and apprehend those behind the deadly assault.
The killing of a serving Nigerian Army personnel alongside three civilians has further heightened concerns over the deteriorating security situation in parts of Plateau State, particularly in rural communities where armed attacks on residents and travellers have continued to threaten lives and livelihoods.
Barkin Ladi and other parts of Plateau State have repeatedly experienced deadly security incidents, with attacks on rural settlements, commuters and farming communities deepening fears among residents and raising questions about the effectiveness of security measures in vulnerable areas.
The latest incident has also renewed concerns about the safety of major and connecting roads in the state, particularly routes linking rural communities where commuters remain exposed to attacks by armed groups.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Plateau State Police Command proved unsuccessful as the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, neither answered telephone calls nor responded to a message sent to him before the report was filed.
As of the time of filing this report, the police had yet to issue an official statement on the attack.