One killed, two injured in ambush on youths in Plateau community

By: Zagazola Makama 

One person has been confirmed dead and two others injured after suspected local criminal elements  ambushed three youths along the Kpashio–Ansa road in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that  the victims, Joseph Ezekiel, 27; Ishaya Michael, 25; and Abednego Sunday, 30, were travelling on a motorcycle to Kpashio village when they came under sudden gunfire at about 2030 hrs on April 18.

Troops stationed in the area reportedly heard sporadic gunshots from a distance and immediately moved toward the scene, where they discovered the victims lying by the roadside with gunshot wounds.

The injured were swiftly evacuated to the Miango Healthcare Centre for emergency treatment, but Ishaya Michael was later confirmed dead, while the other two victims are receiving medical care.

According to security sources, preliminary findings indicate that the attackers also fled with the victims’ motorcycle after the ambush, suggesting a criminal dimension to the incident beyond the immediate attack.

Troops thereafter conducted a sweep of the surrounding area in pursuit of the assailants, but no contact was made during the operation.

The incident sparked tension in the community the following morning when groups of women from Kpashio and neighbouring settlements staged a protest over the killing.

Sources noted that the circumstances surrounding the ambush remain under investigation, describing the incident as complex due to the criminal and communal dynamics of the area.

Preliminary assessments suggest that the attackers may have operated as criminal elements within the area, exploiting the prevailing insecurity in the border community, where multiple groups move across difficult terrain.

Investigators are also engaging local informants and community leaders to establish the identities and motives of the assailants.

“The situation is being carefully examined. At this stage, no conclusion has been reached, and all possibilities are being considered,” a security source said.

Authorities stressed that the general security situation in the area remains calm but tense, with troops continuing domination patrols to prevent further attacks.

Residents have been urged to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue into what has become another tragic episode in the ongoing cycle of violence affecting parts of Plateau State.