By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Youths in Dorowa Babuje, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday blocked the busy Jos–Shendam highway in protest over the killing of nine community members by gunmen.
The victims were reportedly attacked on Sunday night at a bar located along the highway. The protest, which drew youths, women and other sympathisers, caused major disruption to vehicular movement as demonstrators demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Security operatives under Operation Enduring Peace were deployed to the area to restore order, but as of press time, protesters had refused to vacate the road.
One of the protesting youths, Samson Godiya, lamented what he described as repeated attacks on the community.
“We have suffered as a community for too long in the hands of these attackers. For how long shall we continue to be killed without anything being done to stop them?” he said.
“We cannot continue like this. We are tired of promises by the government and security agents to protect us. If they cannot live up to their promises, they should leave us alone.
A situation where security personnel are around and yet cannot stop the killers is what we do not understand,” he added.
The latest attack is part of a growing security challenge in Barkin Ladi and neighbouring Riyom LGAs, where several communities have come under repeated assaults, resulting in loss of lives and displacement of residents.
A community leader with the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the recovery of the nine bodies in Jos on Monday.
Our correspondent reports that between Friday and Sunday, about 12 persons were killed in separate incidents across Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas.
Spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, confirmed the incidents and urged residents to remain calm, assuring that efforts were ongoing to apprehend those behind the attacks.
The spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, was unreachable for comment at the time of filing this report.