Gunmen launched a deadly assault on grieving residents in Ndang village, Plateau State, on Wednesday afternoon, turning a solemn mass burial into a scene of carnage. The victims had assembled in the Fan District of the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area to inter seven people killed during an earlier attack on Tuesday night.
- +Plateau mass burial turns tragic as gunmen kill mourners in fresh attack
The assailants struck as mourners were digging graves for the previous night’s victims, who included members of the same family.
The assailants struck as mourners were digging graves for the previous night’s victims, who included members of the same family. Witness and journalist Masara Kim reported that the situation was critical as he witnessed the violence firsthand.
”As we speak, attacks are ongoing across several communities south of Jos, and the situation is extremely dire. More than five communities are reportedly under siege at the same time,” Kim said. “I witnessed a man being shot right before me as the attackers advanced from the hills, firing towards the area where we had gathered to bury victims of the previous night’s killings.”
According to Kim, the gunmen watched the ceremony from surrounding hills before descending on the residents. The speed of the advance forced mourners to abandon traditional rites and hurriedly place bodies into shallow graves before fleeing for their lives.
”The grave we were preparing was not even properly dug. People had to quickly drop the bodies in and run as gunfire drew closer. There were no proper funeral rites,.just a hurried prayer before chaos erupted. One of the local defenders trying to protect civilians was shot and fell instantly,” Kim said.
The community was completely overwhelmed.
“The attackers took over the community, and everyone fled in different directions to survive. At first, we thought the gunshots were far away, but within moments, they were upon us. People started falling, and we had no choice but to abandon everything, including our vehicles, and run,” Kim said.
The fresh violence has deepened panic across surrounding communities. Berom Youth-Moulders Association publicity secretary Rwang Tengwom described the situation as “terrible” and confirmed that the association’s president was among those trapped in the area.
”I’m currently on my way to the community. The situation is critical, and we’ve been informed that our president is trapped there. We are doing everything possible to get him out safely,” Tengwom said.
