Three persons, including two palace administrators, have been abducted by bandits in the Bunyun community, Bashar District, in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The bandits were said to have burned several houses in an attack that took place on Wednesday around 7:30 p.m.
The attack is believed to be linked to last Sunday’s clash between vigilantes and bandits that resulted in the deaths of several vigilantes and the destruction of several houses.
A source explained that the bandits invaded the community in their large numbers, using their motorcycles to loot valuable items, including food, clothes, and motorcycles.
He further explained that while the attack was going on, they were completely confused and did not know what to do, lamenting that everybody had to run away because people were afraid to remain in the area.
He identified the abducted palace officials as Waziri and Wakili, his younger brother, saying that following the attack, the community had been deserted, with residents fleeing to nearby towns, including Bashar, for safety.
The source stated that the community was deserted on Thursday morning following the Wednesday night attack, stressing the need for the government to deploy enough security personnel to the area to enable farmers to continue farming and secure their livelihoods.
He stated that their crops are already planted and are worried about their farms, adding that they need the government to help them with security so that they can go back to their farms and secure their livelihoods.
Spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom, and his counterpart from the State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be contacted as they did not respond to calls.
