Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A 44‑year‑old man identified as Ayuba Choji has been killed by suspected bandits in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, in an attack that has heightened concerns over insecurity in central Nigeria. Local community sources and law enforcement are now calling for strengthened protection for rural residents.
According to reports from Premium Times and PUNCH, the incident took place on Wednesday night along the Kumex–Mararaba–Foron axis of the Heipang–Foron Road. Choji and another man were travelling on a motorcycle when they were ambushed by armed assailants believed to be Fulani bandits. The attackers reportedly stabbed Choji to death, while his companion narrowly escaped the assault.
A local leader, Moses Dung, told journalists that residents had received threats from the suspected bandits in the days leading up to the attack, with warnings urging them to vacate the area before the violence unfolded. He described the killing as part of a pattern of escalating threats and armed incursions that have disrupted daily life and deepened fear among villagers.
The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) swiftly condemned the killing in a statement, characterising it as “barbaric and unprovoked.” The group urged security agencies to investigate the attack and bring those responsible to justice, while also raising alarm over increased suspicious movements of armed elements across parts of Plateau State. BYM further appealed for intensified patrols and improved intelligence operations to protect vulnerable rural communities and farming corridors that have borne the brunt of similar incidents.
Security forces have acknowledged the incident and said that investigations are underway. A police source at the Plateau State Command Headquarters confirmed that officers were aware of the ambush and had commenced inquiries to identify and apprehend the attackers, though no arrests have been reported publicly at this stage.
The killing of Choji comes amid a broader pattern of violent attacks in Plateau State, a region that has witnessed repeated armed raids, kidnappings, and clashes involving bandit groups and armed militias. In recent months, multiple violent incidents in Barkin Ladi and neighboring local government areas have been reported, including attacks that left several villagers dead and others injured. Some episodes have involved large‑scale raids on communities, prompting mass burials and heightened fear among residents.
Security officials in Plateau State have periodically conducted operations aimed at disrupting criminal networks and bandit hideouts. In late 2025, troops from the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division and Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace conducted raids in the area, recovering weapons and detaining suspects, underscoring ongoing efforts to curb armed violence.
Despite these efforts, local leaders and residents remain apprehensive. Many complain that patrols and security responses have not yet stemmed the tide of attacks, leaving communities vulnerable, especially in remote farming corridors where residents travel to and from their fields. Critics argue that the lack of sustained security presence emboldens armed groups, allowing them to carry out repeated assaults with relative impunity.
The violence in Plateau State is part of a larger security crisis affecting Nigeria’s North‑Central region, where banditry, kidnappings, and communal clashes have displaced thousands and claimed numerous lives over recent years. Human rights organisations have documented hundreds of attacks on rural communities, contributing to a humanitarian cost marked by displacement, trauma, and interruption of agricultural activities.
Residents in Barkin Ladi and surrounding areas have urged both state and federal security agencies to reinforce protection measures, expand intelligence sharing, and work more closely with local vigilante groups and community leaders. Many argue that greater cooperation between formal security forces and community networks could help prevent future attacks and reduce the sense of vulnerability that has gripped the region.
As investigations continue, the killing of Ayuba Choji has once again underscored the persistent challenges facing Plateau State, where ordinary citizens cope daily with the threat of armed violence and limited guarantees of safety. The incident has reignited calls for urgent action to protect lives, uphold the rule of law, and restore a sense of security for all residents.
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