Ten people are killed in coordinated Plateau attacks as gunmen raid villages, injure residents and trigger security response.
Fresh violence has rocked Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State following coordinated attacks on Jol community and Dorowa Babuje in neighbouring Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
Local leaders confirmed that the attacks occurred on Sunday evening between about 7:15 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., leaving at least ten people dead.
In Dorowa Babuje (Rob District), gunmen reportedly stormed a relaxation spot at about 7:15 p.m. and opened fire indiscriminately on unsuspecting residents. Eyewitnesses said the assailants shot sporadically, causing panic as people scrambled for safety. Nine persons were confirmed killed in the community, while at least two others sustained critical injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.
The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYMA), Barrister Solomon Dalyop, said the attackers in Dorowa Babuje were believed to have emerged from the Jong-Wereh area, where they had allegedly camped for some time before launching the assault. He noted that security agencies were promptly informed and that the swift response of the military helped prevent the casualty figure from rising further.
In Jol community, one person was confirmed dead in a separate but near-simultaneous attack. Dalyop disclosed that the assailants reportedly arrived on motorcycles from the Manga axis despite prior warnings issued to security agencies about suspicious movements in the area. Personnel of Operation Rainbow, Plateau State’s security outfit, were said to be on ground and engaged the attackers, successfully repelling them and limiting further loss of life.
Confirming the incident, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement, Rwang Tengwong, described the killings as tragic and devastating, lamenting the continued targeting of communities in the area.
Spokesperson for Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Oteh, also confirmed that troops responded swiftly after receiving distress calls. He said security has since been reinforced in the affected communities, while investigations are ongoing to track down and apprehend the perpetrators.
The latest killings add to a troubling pattern of recurring violence in Riyom and surrounding areas, regarded as some of Plateau State’s most volatile flashpoints. Farming communities in the axis have endured cycles of night raids, ambushes, and displacement in recent months.
Residents of Jol and Dorowa Babuje are now gripped by fear as families mourn their dead. Community leaders and youth groups have renewed calls on both federal and state governments to intensify surveillance, dismantle suspected camps in surrounding forests, and move beyond reactive security responses toward long-term peacebuilding and protection of vulnerable communities.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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