Updated: Horror as bandits burn 36 people to death in Jos

• Ten suspects arrested

Bandits on Wednesday killed about 36 people including women and children in their sleep in an attack on Yelwan Zangam community in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Many of the victims were said to have been burnt beyond recognition.

The attackers also burnt many houses with food items.

A member of the community, David Zion, who confirmed the attack, said the bandits invaded the community in the wee hours of Wednesday August 25 and started setting fire on the buildings, killing people in their sleep.

“We have recovered 36 corpses of people who were killed, most of the corpses were burnt beyond recognition,” Zion said.

The attack happened hours after headquarters 3 Division of Nigerian Army and Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a multi security task force maintaining peace in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna, alleged a plot by some merchants to perpetrate unrest in Jos and its environs.

This is coming barely one week after 27 travellers were killed in Gadabiyu-Rukuba road, in the Jos North LGA.

Ten people have been arrested in connection with the latest attack.

Governor Simon Lalong has called the attacks “barbaric” and summoned an emergency meeting to discuss and curtail the repeated killings in parts of the state.

The governor, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Makut Macham, directed security personnel should intensify efforts in tracking down other assailants and their sponsors.

“Lalong is furious over the incident which security reports indicate was carefully planned as the bridge linking the village was said to have been destroyed to deny security forces access to the area during the attack,” the statement said.

“Governor Lalong again warns criminals that they will be pursued, arrested, and dealt with, no matter how long it takes, as his administration will not allow the reign of terror to persist and rubbish all the investments made in restoring calm in the State, ” it added.

Meanwhile, spokesman for the state police command, ASP Ubah Gabriel, has confirmed the attack, but says details of the incident will come later.