The tragic incident occurred on Sunday in Kimapka, Kwall district, Irigwe chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area of the state.
The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Plateau State has called on the authorities to investigate the killing of five Christians, including a pastor and his wife by gunmen suspected to be Islamic militia.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday in Kimapka, Kwall district, Irigwe chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area of the state.
The attack and killing of the Assemblies of God Church pastor, Mr Dauda Dalyop, 63, and his wife Chummy Dauda, 57, came barely a week after a meeting was held between the Christian Irigwe and Muslim Fulani leaders to have peaceful relations.
Other people killed in the Christian community, according to a statement issued by Irigwe Development Association (IDA), were - Chwe Ajuhs, 26; Joshua Kusa, 45; and Rikwe Doro, 43.
One Sunday Abila, 36, was reported injured.
SaharaReporters gathered that the Peace Implementation Committee meeting organised by the Nigeria Army of Operations Save Heaven (OPSH) in Jos, sought to bring lasting peace between Christian Irigwe and Muslim Fulani communities in the state.
“We relax thinking the Fulani leaders will talk to the terrorists to stop the attacks, but on a sad note, the Fulani [militias] killed a pastor and wife with three other church members,” a local community leader told an International Christian Concern (ICC) staffer.
But reacting to the unprovoked killing, Reverend Akus Odoh of the Evangelical Church Winning All in Miango district condemned the attack and called for a thorough investigation.
“Nigeria has lost its values, including its respected army in West Africa,” the cleric said. “The government doesn’t respect the right to life.”
Rev. Odoh also condemned the Peace Implementation Committee meeting, alleging that the Fulani leaders who participated only paid lip service to working towards peace.
Sam Jugo, IDA National Publicity Secretary, also condemned the attack, referring to it as a “criminal invasion of the community.”
“We woke up this morning to another sad one,” he said. “In the middle of the night … criminal invaders attacked and killed five of our residents in cold blood …”
Jugo called for community members to remain calm and trust that authorities will bring justice.
“We call on the security agencies to (find) the culprits so that the affected will see justice being served,” he said. “That’s the only way to restore the confidence of our people.”
When SaharaReporters contacted the Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, he confirmed the incident.
He, however, said that security had been beefed up in the community to prevent a reoccurrence of such a tragic incident.
"An incident happened where five persons were killed, whether it was a pastor or pagan, they were human beings. The Commissioner of Police went there and saw the incident and he has posted men to that place to ensure that it doesn't happen again. We are working with the community to get more information concerning the incident," he said.