Fresh Plateau attacks leave outlets reporting different death tolls

Fresh attacks in Plateau State have left conflicting death tolls across reports, with communities in Mangu, Jos South and Riyom named in accounts published on Monday.

Premium Times reported that four people were killed in attacks on four communities in Mangu Local Government Area. Punch reported a wider toll of 15 deaths from separate attacks in Jos South, Mangu and Riyom, including nine passengers travelling to Jos.

The different figures appear to come from different community accounts and separate attack locations. Premium Times cited the Mwaghavul Youth Movement as saying attacks took place in Kikyau, Larkas, Ntul and Kinat, with the latest incident at Kinat on the night of September 12.

The group said Katbam Titus, 29, was killed in the Kinat attack. It also said the violence followed a visit by the General Officer Commanding, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, who had met Mwaghavul and Fulani leaders in Mangu and urged both sides to end hostilities.

Punch reported that suspected terrorists opened fire on a vehicle at Dungus community in Jos South Local Government Area, killing passengers travelling to Jos. It cited Berom Youth Moulders spokesman Rwang Tengwong and a resident, Musa Dauda, for details of the attack and injuries.

The Punch report also said suspected terrorists attacked Vodni in Pushit District of Mangu, killing two people and injuring four others, while another attack in Riyom was part of the wider death toll it reported.

The latest accounts point to new attacks across several Plateau communities and show why the casualty picture remains unsettled.

Sources: Premium Times, Punch