A somber burial ceremony in Nding Fan District turned into a scene of carnage on Wednesday afternoon as gunmen launched a coordinated attack on mourners.
The victims had gathered to inter seven individuals killed in a previous assault on the community when the assailants, who had reportedly been monitoring the proceedings from nearby hills, descended and opened fire.
The sudden violence forced grieving residents to abandon the funeral rites and scramble for safety amidst a hail of bullets.
The attack appears to be part of a larger, systemic wave of violence across the region. Eyewitnesses reported that at least five communities south of Jos came under simultaneous assault, suggesting a well-organized operation.
One survivor recounted the horror of the scene, noting that the attackers struck while graves were still being dug. The sheer scale of the offensive reportedly overwhelmed local defenders, who were armed only with hunting rifles and improvised weapons against the superior firepower of the invaders.
Panic has gripped the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area as residents flee their homes to escape the advancing gunmen.
Reports from the scene indicate that the burial was cut short, with mourners forced to hurriedly place bodies in shallow graves before retreating. “A man was shot dead right in my presence,” one witness shared, highlighting the proximity and lethality of the encounter.
Due to the ongoing chaos and the displacement of the population, an official casualty count has not yet been established.
The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) has characterized the situation as “terrible,” with Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, confirming that rescue efforts are currently focused on reaching those trapped in the embattled communities.
As the security situation remains fluid, local leaders are calling for urgent intervention to prevent further loss of life.
Security agencies have yet to release an official statement regarding the deployment of reinforcements to the affected districts.
