Five traders have been abducted on Monday during a bandit attack in a market at Dogon Ruwa, a community in Bashar district of Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The incident occurred on the market day, with an influx of traders and buyers from neighbouring communities conducting business activities.
According to residents who managed to escape the onslaught, the invaders came in large numbers on motorcycles at the peak of business transactions.
They shot sporadically as traders and residents scampered to safety, forcing people to flee the market and their homes.
The bandits burgled and looted some shops and business centres, carting away large quantities of food items, consumables, and medicines during the attack.
Abdullahi Isma’il, whose shop was affected, narrated the incident.
“They stormed the area, almost surrounding the community, and started shooting. Some of them went to the market straight away, where they picked five shop owners. We believe they targeted the market day to steal food items”. Abdullahi said.
The market is one of the big trading centres that attracts hundreds of visitors from neighboring communities. Here, services are rendered, and food items such as grains, flour, rice, beans, drinks, and other goods are on sale.
Villages in Wase, particularly in Bashar district, have been suffering from bandits’ attacks in recent times, resulting in loss of lives and property.
Monday’s incident adds to the growing list of abductions and attacks on the Plateau.
In the past few months, hundreds of people have been killed and many more displaced after gunmen attacked several communities in the North-Central state.
In the wake of the renewed attacks, Governor Caleb Muftwang labelled them genocidal and an attempt at land grabbing. While the identity of the assailants is unknown, he said some of them speak foreign languages.
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