No fewer than three persons were reportedly killed around the Kyikyau–Gyambwas boundary in Mangu Halle District of Mangu Local Government Area.

The victims were killed at about 7:49 p.m, when the community was observing dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Our correspondent reports that the latest incident occurred a day after the state government imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew in Mangu, Bokkos and Barikin Ladi LGAs, to restore law and order following reports of attacks and killing.

Dozens of people including women were killed within a few days in the affected LGAs.

Confirming the Tuesday night ambush, the Director of Public Affairs, of the group , Tubwot Joël Sunday, said the victims were victims who were keeping watch on the community.

He gave the names of the victims as Samson Dachet, 45; Gambo Fwangyil, 50; and Zughumnan Bamaiyi, 35.

“The Mwaghavul Youth Movement is deeply disturbed that this deadly attack occurred during the period of the newly imposed 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew, a measure introduced by the Plateau State Government with the stated objective of protecting lives and enabling security agencies to stabilise affected communities,” he said.

The movement questioned the effectiveness of the curfew if armed criminals could still move and attack communities during the restricted hours.

“If law-abiding citizens are confined to their homes from 6:00 p.m., while armed Fulani criminals continue to move, attack and kill with impunity during the same period, who is the curfew ultimately protecting?” He asked.

Also, the National President of Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, condemned the incident, describing it as dangerous.

“The curfew is not working with lawless persons. While our people observe the curfew these bandits don’t. Rather they take advantage of it as they attack soft targets of our communities especially those at the borders during the curfew period,” he noted.

“The show of force is in semi-urban areas while the Rural areas remain vulnerable. We don’t need much security personnel in the urban areas. They took down three of our boys and mutilated their bodies. Now they are taking the attacks to our door steps knowing we will not respond due the presence of security agents. The curfew creates the enabling environment for them to escalate the attack on our communities.”

When contacted, the spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh, declined to comment.

(Daily Trust)