By Sam Kayode
Over 21 residents have been killed in Heipang community, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria.
This occurred Thursday when suspected bandits evaded the military and reigned havoc upon the community which is the host of the airport in the state.
The Community renowned for Irish potatoes is a sleepy one located within the Barkin Ladi council area not far from Mararaba Jama near Kuru, Jos.
The attack, which took place in the early hours of Thursday, led to injuries unleashed on about 13 others, who sources told this reporter have been rushed to hospital facilities around the vicinity.
Spokesman for Operation Safe Haven, Captain Ola James, disclosed that despite receiving advance alerts regarding a potential assault, the assailants managed to evade security and unleashed a wave of violence upon the unsuspecting community.
In a swift response, troops have been deployed to the affected vicinity with the aim of reinstating law and order and most of the assailants have been taken out.
Eye witnesses told this reporter that in the pandemonium that ensured, most of the residents escaped to the surrounding villages while a couple of them were caught while trying to escape from the carnage.
“We blocked their routes and took out most of them. Only few of them managed to return back to where they came from” said a source.
This is the second time that this kind of dastardly attack is being unleashed on Heipang village within two months.
Two villagers lost their lives in a similar circumstance recently making it very urgent for security personnel to protect the airport and the surrounding communities.
Plateau has witnessed a sad rise in attacks on villages within Mangu and Riyom attributed to armed bandits in recent times, despite the visit of the Chief of Army Staff to the region.
During his visit, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja, had charged troops with the responsibility of curbing the activities of armed bandits who sometimes masquerade as herdsmen.
