Youths in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday blocked the highway leading to Jos to protest the killing of community members by gunmen who attacked the area on Sunday.

The youths, who were joined by women and other sympathisers, have refused all entreaties to vacate the road and have vowed to remain there until the perpetrators of the attack are apprehended and punished according to the law.

One of the protesters, Samson Godiya, lamenting the situation, said members of the community have suffered for too long in the hands of the attackers whom they suspect to be Fulani herdsmmen.

Recall that the death toll in the latest wave of violent attacks in the community had risen to 10, following the recovery of additional bodies from affected communities in Barkin Ladi on Monday.

The attack, which occurred on Sunday evening in Barkin Ladi LGA, is part of a growing security challenge in the state, where several communities have been repeatedly targeted by gunmen, leading to significant loss of life and displacement of residents.

A community leader with the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the recovery of the bodies in Jos on Monday, while Some of the protesters in separate interviews told reporters that the road would remain blocked, “ those who killed our people are brought to justice ”

Tengwong stated that the victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention, and the injured victims are still recovering.

Our correspondent reports that following the youths’ action, motorists coming from the Shendam and Langtang axis have been stopped from moving to Jos, while those from Jos are waiting to be allowed to move.

When contacted, the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alfred Alabo, was unreachable for comment as of the time of filing this report.