By Priye Briggs
At least six people have been killed and three others injured in separate assaults by suspected Fulani armed groups across Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
The Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) confirmed the incidents in a statement on Monday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong. According to the group, the first attacks occurred on Saturday in Ta-Hoss, Riyom and Sabon Layi, Barkin Ladi, with another strike reported in Kwi district of Riyom early Sunday.
Tengwong described the assaults as “unprovoked and part of an ongoing campaign of terror against Christian communities in Plateau, especially in Riyom and Barkin Ladi.” He condemned what he called a sustained siege on Berom communities and urged security agencies to take decisive action.
Giving details, BYM said that at about 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, armed Fulani terrorists operating from the Bangai axis attacked farmers on their farmland at Rinyan Village in Ta-Hoss Community, Riyom LGA. The attackers shot dead Hudung Luka, 40, and critically injured Ladi Istifanus, 50. Later that night, terrorists invaded Sabon Layi Community in Barkin Ladi LGA and murdered Sunday, 25, Benjamin James, 33, and Godwin Yakubu, 27. In the early hours of Sunday, the attackers struck again, killing Peter Bulus in Kwi Village, Riyom LGA.
The group warned that the repeated killings are part of a persistent pattern of violence targeting innocent civilians, farmers, and rural communities. BYM expressed concern over intelligence reports alleging that armed groups are camped in different Plateau locations to launch coordinated attacks.
“This disturbing development calls for immediate intelligence-driven security operations to identify, dismantle, and neutralise these camps before more innocent lives are lost,” the statement read.
BYM urged security agencies to respond swiftly rather than wait for attackers to strike before taking action.