Curfew Fails to Stop Plateau Bloodshed as Gunmen Kill Police Officer, Civilians in Fresh Attacks

A dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the Plateau State Government has failed to stem the tide of violence in the state, as gunmen killed a senior police officer and several civilians in fresh attacks across Barkin Ladi and Mangu Local Government Areas.

The Plateau State Police Command confirmed that a Chief Superintendent of Police and three civilians were killed in separate attacks in Barkin Ladi on Tuesday night.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, said gunmen ambushed security operatives attached to Operation Rainbow along Gagshi Road, between Barkin Ladi and Bokkos Local Government Areas.

“Investigations are ongoing to unravel the perpetrators of the attack and ensure justice is served,” Alabo stated.

Three civilians were also killed in a separate attack at Rakok, also known as Kafi Abu, in Barkin Ladi, while mourners attending a funeral were reportedly caught in the violence.

In Mangu, the Mwaghavul Youth Movement reported that three men aged 45, 50 and 35 were ambushed and killed at the Kyikyau-Gyambwas boundary in Mangu Halle District on Tuesday night.

The group said the victims were keeping watch over their community when armed attackers struck at about 7:39 p.m., during the curfew period.

“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,” the group stated.

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

The Berom Youth Moulders-Association also condemned the killing of a 22-year-old father of two, Henry Elisha, during attacks on Rakwok, Bet, Razat, Gassa and Rakung communities in Barkin Ladi on Monday night.

The association said mourners at Elisha’s burial on Tuesday, including its national president, were trapped when attackers engaged security personnel in a gun battle.

National President of the BYM, Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, who narrowly escaped the ambush, described the situation as escalating beyond the night hours.

“This security challenge has entered another level. This thing is taking a bigger dimension. This will not be night attack again. This will not be even during daytime,” Mwantiri stated.

The Plateau State Government had imposed the curfew on Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu on Monday, September 21, following a wave of attacks that left more than 20 people dead within two days.

The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, said the measure was aimed at maintaining public order and enabling security agencies to stabilise the affected areas.

“The Plateau State Government has declared an immediate, dusk-to-dawn curfew across Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas to maintain public order and curb emerging security threats in the region,” Ramnap stated.

The government also ordered an immediate ban on the use of motorcycles across the three local government areas.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria condemned the killing of the senior police officer, identified as CSP David Babale, and called for an end to the cycle of violence.

MACBAN Plateau State Chairman, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, warned against attributing every violent incident to the Fulani community without credible evidence, saying such premature accusations were capable of inflaming tensions.

“Criminals should be treated as individuals, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. No community should be condemned without credible evidence,” Babayo stated.

The police urged residents to remain law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies as investigations into the attacks continue.