Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Riyom, Plateau State – A deep sense of sorrow and unrest has gripped communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State as residents continue to mourn recent killings that have left multiple families broken and the earth of their villages damp with grief. The latest burial held this week in the village where Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo lives came amid fresh anguish over continuing violence that has claimed lives and displaced many in the region.
The incident that led to this latest wave of mourning unfolded just days earlier when gunmen believed by local residents to be herdsmen stormed rural settlements within Riyom. Eyewitnesses said the attackers, armed and mobile, arrived suddenly, opening fire on unsuspecting villagers. Two individuals were killed during the attack, and several others were wounded. Survivors described scenes of panic and chaos as families scrambled to find shelter and escape the gunfire. Those with serious injuries were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment, while others, traumatised by the event, remained in shock.
The killings represent the latest in a string of violent episodes that have marred rural life across parts of Plateau State. Communities in and around Riyom have endured repeated waves of attacks over the past year, many of which have been attributed by local residents and community leaders to armed herders, though official investigations into individual incidents have often been slow or inconclusive. For many families, the violence has come without warning and without clear accountability, leaving emotional scars as deep as the physical ones.
Among those mobilising emotional and public support for victims is Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, a local cleric who has become a prominent voice documenting the toll of recurrent attacks. He has often been seen at burial grounds offering prayers and public commentary on behalf of grieving families, urging authorities to respond more decisively to ongoing insecurity. His presence this week underscored the community’s profound sense of loss and yearning for peace.
The burial ceremony itself was a solemn affair, bringing together relatives, friends, neighbours, and traditional leaders who walked in procession to lay the slain to rest. Throughout the gathering, tears were shed and quiet prayers offered for departed souls, even as family members struggled with the emotional weight of another violent chapter in their lives. For many attendees, the act of burial was also a stark reminder of deeper unresolved challenges facing rural communities in Plateau State.
The state has seen a pattern of violence involving armed groups in its rural expanses. While some of these clashes stem from longstanding disputes over land use and grazing routes between farmers and herders, other episodes have reflected broader issues of armed banditry and shifting communal tensions. In Riyom, these factors have often converged, making villages vulnerable to unpredictable outbreaks of violence that can escalate with little warning.
Local authorities have made statements condemning attacks and promising enhanced security measures, but many residents say those assurances have yet to translate into a significant reduction in violence on the ground. Community activists and elders have repeatedly called on security agencies, including military and police units, to increase patrols and adopt proactive measures that can deter attacks and protect lives. Despite these appeals, families in affected areas continue to live with uncertainty, fear and frustration.
In the days following the attack, survivors and witnesses described a climate of deep anxiety. Children have been particularly affected, with many too traumatised to play or attend school as they once did. Adults, meanwhile, have expressed concern for their safety when tending farms or travelling between communities, fearing that violence could strike again without notice. The psychological impact of repeated attacks has compounded the economic difficulties faced by rural households in a region where agriculture remains the mainstay of local livelihoods.
Plateau State has for years struggled with periodic communal and herder‑farmer violence. Efforts by government officials, traditional rulers and civil society groups to foster dialogue and peacebuilding have sometimes created temporary openings for calm, but sustainable solutions have remained elusive. Many analysts argue that deeper investment in permanent security presence, conflict resolution infrastructure, and development programmes targeting root causes — such as poverty, education gaps and competition over resources — will be necessary to break the cycle of violence.
For now, the burial of those lost this week stands as a somber testament to the toll exacted on families in Riyom. As mourners returned to their homes with heavy hearts, the community was left to grapple with both its grief and the pressing need for lasting peace. Families of the deceased have called on government authorities and security agencies to investigate the attack thoroughly and ensure that similar tragedies do not recur.
As dusk fell over the village and the final prayers were offered, the soil that received the bodies of the departed seemed to echo the collective ache of a community yearning for safety, healing and a future free from the threat of further bloodshed.
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