Five persons were killed on Tuesday in Bassa LGA, Plateau State in spite of the curfew imposed by Plateau State Government, a youth leader in the area has told Peoples Gazette.

Three Local Governments- Jos North, Jos South and Bassa- are under curfew imposed by state governor Simon Lalong following escalation on inter-ethnic killings in the state which culminated in Saturday’s killing of 25 persons at Rukuba, Jos North Local Government.

The curfew was called to prevent further spread of the violence to other parts of the state.

However, spokesman to Miango Youth Development Association, Nuhu Nga, told The Gazette on Wednesday that five persons were killed at Tafi-Gana Village, Miango District, Bassa LGA of the state notwithstanding the curfew.

“The attack took place yesterday August 17. What happened yesterday was that the Fulani militias invaded Tafi-Gana village of Miango District, Bassa LGA, Plateau State. 

“The casualties of yesterday’s attack were five people, four men and one woman. One person was also injured and currently receiving treatment in the hospital,” Mr Nga said. 

He further said that the attack took place shortly after security operatives in the Tafi-Gana village were withdrawn, adding that it took four hours for security operatives to show up after the attack was reported.

“There is a joint patrol actually but prior to yesterday’s attack, the normal security men stationed in the affected village were withdrawn and after they were withdrawn, the attack took place. Security agencies were informed after the attack and it took them four hours before they came,” Mr Nga said. 

The spokesman for the police in Plateau, Gabriel Ogaba, confirmed the incident in Bassa but advised The Gazette to contact the military personnel leading a joint security patrol in the area for details.

“There is an incident that took place there in Bassa. There is a joint patrol happening there now. So you [can] call the person in charge of the joint patrol who is a military personnel,” Mr Ogaba told The Gazette on Wednesday.