I Pretended To Be Dead To Escape From Bandits’ Attack — Plateau Survivor

A survivor of an attack by suspected militias in Rantiya community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, has narrated how he escaped death by pretending to be dead during the assault.

The survivor, Isaac Dung, said he resorted to the desperate measure after armed attackers invaded Rangarasa village in Rantiya community on Thursday night.

The attack reportedly left two vigilante operatives dead and about 15 others injured as the assailants opened fire on residents.

Narrating his experience, Dung, a 37-year-old father of three, said he was returning home from work when he noticed several motorcycles carrying armed men entering the community.

He said the number of attackers appeared to be more than 100, with some motorcycles carrying two or three persons, raising immediate concerns among residents.

“I was going home after closing from work that day when I noticed the group riding into our community on several motorcycles,” Dung said.

He explained that the attackers suddenly began shooting sporadically, causing panic as residents ran for safety.

“Bullets were flying everywhere while people were running helter-skelter, trying to get into the bushes and rocks for safety,” he said.

Dung, who said he had a bad leg, explained that he knew he could not outrun the attackers and had to quickly think of a way to survive.

According to him, he fell to the ground and pretended to be dead when the attackers approached his location.

He said some of the assailants came close to where he was lying and later moved away after assuming he had been killed.

“When I was sure they had gone, I crawled into the bush where I hid for over five hours before I managed to find my way home,” he added.

Dung described his survival as a combination of divine intervention and instinct, saying he was grateful to have escaped the attack alive.

The Plateau State attack adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of the state, where communities have continued to experience violent attacks and threats from armed groups.

Residents have continued to call for stronger security measures to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further loss of lives.