By Peter Duru &  Marie-Therese Nanlong

JOS — About 42 people were, yesterday, reportedly killed in Benue and Plateau States during separate attacks by unknown gunmen.

Twenty  seven persons were said to have been killed in some communities in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State while 15 others were killed at the popular Kyado Market in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, bringing the total number of those killed in the two neighbouring states to 42.

The victims in Plateau State were killed during a night attack despite the curfew imposed on the area.

In Benue, the victims were killed Wednesday afternoon when unknown armed men opened fire on traders at the market even as many, including children, also sustained varying degrees of injuries at the marker popularly known for its booming yam trade.

However, Barkin Ladi in Plateau was one of the seven local governments where curfew was imposed but night attacks had been going on daily for about three weeks now with many people mostly women and children being killed.

Chairman of the council, Emmanuel Loman, who confirmed the attack, yesterday, blamed the incident on some Fulani herdsmen who he said attacked both Ninji and Popp villages without provocation, killing 20 persons.

He said: “As I talk to you, I am at the mass burial of 27 people killed by the Fulani and their mercenaries. The act is being perpetrated by the Fulani who live in the communities and aided by their mercenaries. The attackers want to make Barkin Ladi another Sambisa forest at all cost.”

He, therefore, called on security operatives to be proactive as the situation was getting out of hand.

On Riyom attack

Residents of the area and neighbouring Riyom Local Government Area had been also under severe attack in the last three days with many residents relocating to other areas for fear of being killed.

Also, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, an eye witness told Vanguard that the gunmen, who were about six in number, stormed the ever busy market located close to Wukari, along the Benue-Taraba State border, at about 12:30pm at the peak of trading activities

“They stormed the market in a commando manner, when business activities were at peak at about 12:30pm, and suddenly opened fire on the traders and their customers, most of whom were trading in tubers of yam.

“There was pandemonium everywhere, people, including children, started scampering in different directions but unfortunately, about 13 persons were killed by the gunmen, while many also sustained injuries.

“After the sporadic shooting which lasted about 10 minutes, the gunmen retreated to the car they came in and drove off.”

Contacted, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Austin Ezeani, confirmed the killings, saying the police recorded the death of three persons and five cases of injuries in the incident.