• Nine passengers among victims as violence hits Jos South, Mangu, Riyom

The discovery of the body of an unidentified man behind the Monday Market in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State has heightened concerns over insecurity in the state, coming barely two days after suspected terrorists killed 13 people in separate attacks in Jos South, Mangu and Riyom councils.

The body was found yesterday morning by community members, who alerted security operatives.

The remains were subsequently evacuated to the General Hospital, Pankshin, where residents gathered as efforts were made to establish the identity of the deceased.

A community source, Panshak Rogo, said: “Presently, we are at the General Hospital. We are here because there is an unidentified individual who was killed around Monday Market.

“The remains are yet to be identified because some sensitive organs have been removed from the body. His ears and nose were cut off, while his private part has also been tampered with,” Rogo said.

He urged residents whose relatives or friends had been reported missing to contact the police to assist with possible identification of the deceased.

Rogo also appealed to anyone with information about the deceased or the circumstances surrounding his death to report to the police.

Efforts to reach the Plateau State Police Command for confirmation of the circumstances surrounding the death and the reported injuries to the body were unsuccessful as of press time.

Meanwhile, at least 13 people were killed in separate attacks across Jos South, Mangu and Riyom Local Councils on Sunday night, with nine of the victims being passengers travelling to Jos.

The passengers were killed when suspected terrorists opened fire on their vehicle at Dungus in Jos South Local Council.

The spokesperson for the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, who confirmed the attack, said it occurred at about 9:40 p.m.

He said one of those killed was a member of Operation Rainbow.

“It is a very sad development and we lament the loss of lives,” Tengwong said.

He added that some of the passengers sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospitals, where some later died from their injuries.

A resident, Musa Dauda, also confirmed the attack, saying some of the injured victims died while receiving treatment, while others remained in hospital.

Also, in Mangu Local Council, suspected terrorists reportedly attacked Vodni in Pushit District, killing two people and injuring four others.

The injured victims were receiving treatment at a hospital in Mangu town.

Two other people were reportedly killed in a separate attack at Tahoos in Riyom Local Council around the same period.

Efforts to reach security operatives for further details on the attacks were unsuccessful.