20 killed as gunmen launch deadly attack on Plateau community

At least 20 people have been killed in a brutal attack by gunmen on Bindi village, located in Ta-Hoss District of Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State. The deadly assault occurred late Monday night, plunging the rural community into mourning and fear.

Eyewitnesses say the attackers struck under the cover of darkness, storming homes while residents were asleep. The coordinated house-to-house invasion left dozens injured and claimed the lives of women, children, and the elderly, many of whom were unable to escape the sudden violence.

Survivors recounted scenes of terror, describing the assailants as heavily armed and merciless. “They moved from house to house, shooting and setting properties on fire,” one resident told reporters, still shaken by the carnage.

Senator Pam Dachungyang, representing Plateau North, condemned the killings and expressed concern over what he described as a “war situation.”

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Eric Dung, the Senator said the recurring attacks, including previous ones in Jol and Rim villages, point to a deliberate effort to terrorise and displace farming communities.

“This cycle of daily, unprovoked attacks is an indictment on all of us. The situation in Bindi (Jebu) last night is beyond tragic and stands to be condemned by all. These are people whose primary occupation is farming, and the continued violence is not only destroying lives but also threatening food security and livelihoods,” Senator Dachungyang said.

The Senator further disclosed that he had reached out to the leadership of the National Assembly to push for a more practical and coordinated military response aimed at dislodging the armed elements behind the attacks.

He also called for an urgent review and strengthening of the state’s security architecture, especially the Special Task Force (STF) responsible for peacekeeping in the area.

Also reacting to the killings, the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), Riyom Chapter, issued a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Gideon Manjal, and Publicity Secretary, Gadu Dong, condemning the attack and calling it part of a broader campaign to displace indigenous people and seize ancestral lands.

“This assault occurred despite the visible presence of security forces in and around the area, including armored military assets. The identities and hideouts of these attackers are known to authorities, yet no meaningful action has been taken to dismantle them,” the group stated.

COPDEM accused both the state and federal authorities of negligence, stressing that repeated attacks on communities like Ta-Hoss, Jol, Rim and Bachi have occurred without adequate protection or justice.

The group called on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Caleb Mutfwang to authorise a full-scale military operation to flush out terrorist elements from Plateau’s regions.

It also urged the government to provide urgent humanitarian aid, trauma counselling and reconstruction support for the affected communities.