Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A 44-year-old man identified as Ayuba Choji was killed in a suspected bandit attack along the Kumex-Mararaba-Foron axis in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, escalating public anxiety over persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s troubled Middle Belt region. The incident, reported early January 9, 2026, has prompted calls for intensified security measures amid a pattern of violent attacks affecting rural communities.
According to local sources and community leaders, Choji and a companion were riding on a motorcycle late Wednesday night when they were ambushed by suspected Fulani bandits. The attackers reportedly emerged from hiding and stabbed Choji to death, while his companion survived the assault with injuries. Community leader Moses Dung told PUNCH Metro that the assailants had previously issued threats warning residents to vacate the area before carrying out the fatal ambush.
The Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) swiftly condemned the “barbaric and unprovoked” killing, urging authorities and security agencies to investigate the attack and apprehend those responsible. In a statement issued through its spokesperson, the group expressed deep concern over heightened suspicious movements and repeated violent incidents in Barkin Ladi, as well as in neighbouring local governments including Riyom, Mangu and Jos South. BYM appealed to the government and security forces to intensify patrols, bolster intelligence operations, and protect vulnerable rural communities and farming corridors across Plateau State.
Plateau State Police Command has acknowledged awareness of the attack and said an investigation is underway to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice. Security agencies have not yet reported any arrests related to the incident. The police’s response comes amid growing public frustration over the frequency of armed assaults that have plagued the Middle Belt, leaving many residents fearful and communities destabilised.
This killing adds to a series of recent violent incidents in Plateau, where banditry, militancy and criminal armed groups have inflicted significant loss of life and property over the past year. In mid-January and throughout 2025, armed men have repeatedly attacked farmers and villagers in Foron, Gero, Barkin Ladi and other areas, killing several civilians and further straining local security efforts.
The region has seen a surge of targeted attacks by armed groups, particularly in rural districts where farmers and pastoralists live and work amid long-standing tensions. Earlier reports documented mass killings and village raids in Barkin Ladi and surrounding districts late in 2025, where armed men opened fire on mining and farming sites, killing multiple civilians and forcing survivors to flee for safety.
The backdrop to these recent assaults includes broader insecurity throughout the state, with communities enduring cycles of violence, displacement and disruption. In October 2025, mass burials were held in Barkin Ladi for victims of coordinated bandit attacks that killed at least 11 people in separate assaults on rural villages.
Long-standing grievances over land use, resource competition and ethnic strife have long fuelled violence in Plateau State, which has become a flashpoint for clashes between armed groups and civilian populations. A comprehensive review of violence in the region indicated that hundreds of rural communities have experienced armed attacks over recent years, with thousands of residents displaced and local governance structures severely strained.
Security officials have periodically launched operations against criminal elements in Plateau. In late 2025, troops of the Nigerian Army’s Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace raided suspected bandit hideouts in Barkin Ladi, recovering weapons and ammunition in efforts to weaken the capacity of armed groups operating in the region.
Despite these efforts, attacks continue to occur sporadically, eroding public confidence and prompting civil society groups to demand more effective protection measures. Advocacy organisations and local community leaders have repeatedly called on federal and state authorities to enhance intelligence-led security operations, expand patrols along known flashpoints, and strengthen collaboration with community watch networks to prevent further bloodshed.
Residents and stakeholders have also focused on the humanitarian toll of ongoing violence, as families struggle with loss, displacement and economic disruption. The persistently fragile security environment in Plateau’s rural belts underscores the urgent need for sustainable peacebuilding strategies that address not only immediate threats but also the underlying causes of inter-communal tensions.
As investigations into the Kumex-Mararaba-Foron attack proceed, authorities face increasing pressure to deliver timely answers and reassure citizens that decisive actions will be taken to rein in banditry and safeguard lives in Plateau State’s vulnerable communities.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments