Youths in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday blocked the major highway leading to Jos and other local government areas in protest over the killing of 10 community members.

The protest followed a Sunday night attack by gunmen on the community, which left several people dead and others injured, further escalating tension in the area.

Our correspondent reports that the youths, joined by women and other sympathizers, barricaded the road and vowed not to vacate it until the perpetrators of the attack are apprehended and punished according to the law.

The demonstrators expressed frustration over what they described as repeated attacks and unfulfilled promises by authorities to secure their communities.

One of the protesting youths who did not want his name in print lamented the situation, saying, “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 added, “We can not continue like this. We are tired of promises by the government and security agents to protect us. If they can not live up to their promises, they should leave us alone. A situation where the security people will be there and, at the same time, can not stop the killers from having their way is what we can not understand”.

Over 10 people were reportedly killed in the latest wave of violent attacks in the community.

Rwang Tenwong, spokesperson of Berom Youth Moulders Association, confirmed to our correspondent that 10 persons were killed by the gunmen.

“Yesterday we recovered 7 dead bodies of our members but this morning, two more dead bodies of community members were recovered from Dorowa Babuje, while another person was shot dead in Jol, Riyom local government council of the state,” Tengwong said.

Tengwong stated that the injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals and still recovering while the dead bodies were deposited in the mortuary.

BusinessDay reports that following the youths’ action, motorists coming from the Shendam and Langtang axis were prevented from moving to Jos, while those from Jos were left waiting to be allowed passage.

Alfred Alabo, the spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, was unreachable for comment when contacted. (Business day)