In a tragic incident, gunmen believed to be herder militiamen have attacked the communities of Baton and Rayogot in Heipang, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.

The attack which happened on Thursday, according to reports, unfortunately resulted in the loss of 21 lives.

Eye witnesses disclosed that the fresh killings might be reprisals from an earlier attack that happened on Tuesday, where a commuter who was returning from a cattle market in Bukur was attacked and killed.

The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) had on that same day condemned the killing.

The spokesperson of the Operation Safe Haven, a multi-security task force maintaining peace in the state, Captain Ola James, had earlier confirmed that 17 persons were killed in the attack and that the attack was a reprisal.

But, BYM’s spokesperson, Rwang Tengwong, said in a statement on Thursday that apart from the 17 bodies recovered, four other mutilated bodies of vigilantes were recovered.

“21 persons have been reportedly killed in an attack on two different villages in Heipang community of Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State by Fulani militia alongside bandits.

“After carrying out the attack in Heipang town, on sighting the attackers, vigilante members from Rayogot who were on the alert tried to stop them but, in the process, four persons were killed.

“The incident ought to have ordinarily been averted going by the security alerts given out to all relevant bodies including OPSH, but the attacks were still carried out,” he said.

So far, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has washed their hands off the allegations of being responsible for the attacks.