It was gathered by CEOAFRICA that gunmen in the early hours of Thursday attacked Kukek community in Bajin Kogi Forun District of Barkinladi Local Government Area of Plateau state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau State, Felicia Anslem, has confirmed the attack, saying that the attackers, who are suspected to be cattle rearers, attacked the home of a man identified as Tsok Gwom, between 1am and 2am killing nine members of the family.

 Part of the victims was Gwom, three women and five children, who were all said to have bullet wounds on their bodies.

One of the women was later identified as Gwom’s wife. The victims’ corpses were yet to be taken to the hospital as of 1.30pm.

Residents of the community had said that gunshots alerted the vigilante members of the community, who launched a reprisal against the attackers, said to be over 30, killing 12 of them.

An anonymous resident of the community said many of the vigilante members also sustained varying degrees of injuries.

He said the attackers might have been cattle rearers, as Gwom’s cattle numbered over 50. His animals however remained intact.