The spokesman for the Miango Youth Development Association, Nuhu Bitrus, declared that the violent action, which took place the day before in the district of Kwal, was carried out when community members were about to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.

Unlike other people in this country, we will not celebrate the important anniversary, and we have turned the scheduled event into a day of prayer for the safety of our communities,” said the youth leader.

In the state of Plateau armed assaults against the population usually occur; one of the most recent ones happened in the village of Kulben, where last September 11 gunmen killed 10 civilians and wounded several others.

Within the country, there is a high level of violence amid armed clashes between herders and farmers over control of land, as well as army clashes against extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State.

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