Fresh violence erupted in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night as armed assailants launched near-simultaneous attacks on Jol community and Dorowa Babuje in the Rob District, leaving at least 10 people dead.
The assaults, which occurred between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., were confirmed by the National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYMA), Barrister Solomon Dalyop, in a telephone interview in Jos. According to him, nine victims were killed in Dorowa Babuje, while one person lost his life in Jol.
Dalyop disclosed that the attackers who stormed Jol reportedly arrived on motorcycles from the Manga axis, despite prior alerts to security agencies regarding suspicious movements in the area.
He noted that operatives of Operation Rainbow, the Plateau State security outfit, were already deployed and succeeded in repelling the attackers, thereby preventing further casualties.
In Dorowa Babuje, the gunmen were said to have emerged from the Jong-Wereh area, where they were believed to have maintained a camp for some time. Dalyop stated that the military responded swiftly after being notified, a move he credited with averting an even higher death toll.
“If not for the prompt intervention of the military in Dorowa, the casualty figure would have been significantly higher. Their swift response deserves commendation,” he said.
As of press time, efforts to obtain an official response from the police were unsuccessful. The Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls, and the Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue a formal statement on the incident.
The latest killings underscore a troubling pattern of recurring violence in Riyom, long regarded as one of Plateau’s most volatile flashpoints. Farming communities in the area have endured repeated night raids, ambushes, and displacement in recent months.
Residents of Jol and Dorowa Babuje remain gripped by fear as families mourn their loved ones and appeal for sustained security deployment to forestall further bloodshed.
Community leaders and youth groups have renewed calls on both federal and state authorities to implement lasting security and peacebuilding measures across Riyom and neighbouring communities.
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