The peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the Christmas celebration in Plateau State was shattered on Wednesday when two persons were reportedly killed while 16 others were wounded when a group of gunmen invaded the Church of Christ in Nations on the eve of the New Year at Maiakworigold Maikatako village in Bokkos Local Government Council of Plateau State.
One other person was said to have been killed in Manguna area of Bokkos Local Government of the state in the early hours of Wednesday.
The gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, were said to have stormed the COCIN Church Maiakworigold Maikatako and started shooting sporadically. The two people were killed on the spot while the 16 people sustained various degrees of injuries in the ensuing stampede.
The third victim in Manguna area of the same local council area was said to have been killed by the retreating gunmen.
One of the eyewitnesses, Mr. Augustine Bim, told newsmen that during the service to usher in the New Year, some gunmen stormed the church and started to shoot at different directions.