Bandits have stormed the Dogon Ruwa community in the Bashar district of the Wase local government area of Plateau State, killing a resident and kidnapping an Imam, Abdulrashid Baduku, his Muezzin (prayer caller) and six others in the area.

Dogon Ruwa is one of the communities that has been hard-hit by banditry and kidnapping in recent times.

A resident (name withheld) said the victims of the invasion were attacked on the outskirts of the community, where they were making charcoal for commercial use.

Shapi’i Sambo, a youth leader in Wase LGA, confirmed the incident and said the attack had caused panic among local residents.

Sambo said, “The victims were processing charcoal when the gunmen stormed the area. An Imam from Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Malam Abdulrashid Baduku, and his Muezzin were among the victims.

“After the attack, the residents trailed the attackers but couldn’t catch up with them because it was evening. The attack has caused panic among our people,” he said

Sambo said security personnel have been stationed in the area and more have been deployed to boost security and encourage the residents to remain calm.

Meanwhile, the police command’s spokesperson, SP Alfred Alabo, had not responded to calls or short messages sent to his cell phone as of press time.

Recently, bandits ambushed soldiers and vigilantes in the same Dogon Ruwa community, killing two soldiers and two vigilantes.

On Monday last week, gunmen attacked Sabon Gari and Zak communities, killing five residents and a soldier.

In other news, the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, in collaboration with security agencies, on Thursday said it has rescued five children who were billed to be trafficked to Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

Three of the children were from Utan community in Jos North, while the other two (twins) hail from Irigwe chiefdom in Bassa LGA of the state.

The suspects’ names were given as Lydia Bulus, Linda Monday, and Esther Solomon. They were arrested at Ngo Tallatu Jang motor park in Jos.

Chairperson of the Commission, Barr Olivia Dazyam, expressed sadness that despite awareness campaigns, people are still engaging in human trafficking.

She said, “This morning, together with the wife of the chairman of Bassa local government, and staff of NAPTIP, we acted on a tip-off and rescued these children. I want to call on the people of Plateau State to unite and say no to these activities.

“Virtually all our local governments have perpetrators, and we must work together to fish them out,” she said.

The Commission has appealed to local governments, especially those considered hot spots, to cooperate in the fight against human trafficking.

Dazyam praised the wife of the chairman of Bassa local government area, Mrs. Miriam Roti, for her prompt response to the situation.

Investigation is ongoing, and the suspects are expected to provide more information on the trafficking network.

Dazyam urged parents to follow due process when adopting or relocating children, saying, “Poverty is not an excuse for releasing your child to somebody you don’t know.”

The Commission has vowed to continue its efforts to combat human trafficking and protect the rights of children in Plateau State.

Mrs. Miriam Riti, wife of the Chairman of Bassa local government of the state, while reacting to the incident, said, “I got a call concerning the trafficking of some children from my local government. So I came to the gender commission.

“It’s really, really disheartening that in Bassa local government, this kind of case keeps reoccurring, despite the awareness campaign, the effort, the little empowerment we give to the parents to enable them do something so that they can make a little sacrifice for their children,” Riti said.