The police say there were only two fatalities.

Five persons were ambushed and killed on Monday night near a bridge on Gero road, Jos South Local Government Area of Northern Plateau state.

The Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, Felicia Anselm, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES. She said that while no arrest has been made, the command was aware of the incident and has commenced investigations.

Ms. Anselm, however, disputed the number of casualties as stated by family sources and witnesses.

She said only two people were killed and some others were injured.

“The incident was reported to us early hours of Tuesday. The attack occurred last night; the people were attacked by unknown persons”.

Ms. Anselm said troops have been deployed “to the scene and have commenced investigations into the killings.”

Residents of the area, however, say they are certain that five people were killed in the incident.

A relation of one of the victims, who gave his name as Chomo, said that the victims who were mostly in their mid 30st were returning from a political meeting held in the late hours of Monday in a local settlement within the council area.

“Two of the victims are Berom people, then the other three are Irrigwe speaking nationals of Bassa, they were returning from political meeting concerning next Tuesday local government elections.”

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the victims have been buried because the bodies were mutilated.

The local government elections in Plateau State have been scheduled for February 25 and campaigns by candidates have been going into late hours.

Last week, three persons were killed by yet to be identified gunmen in Bukuru, the headquarters of Jos. They were found dead in an abandoned building.