By Ade Oyeyemi
Gunmen have reportedly killed a security operative attached to Operation Rainbow and three civilians in separate attacks in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incidents occurred on Tuesday amid growing concerns over renewed violence in parts of the state, with the latest attacks reportedly claiming four lives.
The security operative was said to have been killed when gunmen ambushed members of Operation Rainbow along the Gagshi Road linking Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas.
A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the attack, saying the operative was killed during the ambush at about 4pm.
“We just experienced an ambush in which a security personnel attached to Operation Rainbow was killed,” the source said.
In a separate incident, three people were reportedly killed at Rakok, also known as Kafi Abu, in Barkin Ladi LGA.
A community source, Lawrence Gyang, said the victims were attending the funeral of two people allegedly killed the previous day while travelling to Gashish District when gunmen attacked the mourners.
Gyang said one man and two unidentified women were killed during the attack, which occurred in broad daylight.
The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, Dalyop Mwantiri, confirmed the reported ambush in Jos on Tuesday night, saying he narrowly escaped being caught up in the attack.
Mwantiri expressed concern that the security situation was deteriorating, noting that attacks were no longer restricted to the night.
He said, “This security challenge has entered another level. This thing is taking a bigger dimension.”
The community leader urged security agencies to remain vigilant and intensify efforts to protect residents and communities despite the risks involved.
The latest incidents came shortly after the Plateau State Government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu local government areas.
The curfew, which commenced on Monday, September 21, restricts movement between 6pm and 6am until further notice, with security agencies directed to enforce the order.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, said the measure was introduced to maintain public order and contain emerging security threats.
The Plateau State Police Command had yet to officially comment on the latest incidents as of the time of filing this report.
