Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
At least six people have been confirmed killed, while three others sustained injuries in a series of coordinated attacks carried out by suspected gunmen on communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State over the weekend, marking yet another tragic escalation of violence that has plagued the region for years. The attacks, which the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) described as part of a "sustained campaign of terror" against Christian communities, occurred between Saturday, 4 July 2026, and the early hours of Sunday, 5 July 2026, targeting farmers and residents in Ta-Hoss, Sabon Layi, and Kwi communities.
According to a statement issued on Monday, 6 July 2026, by the BYM National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, the first attack took place at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Saturday in Rinyan Village, Ta-Hoss Community, Riyom LGA. Armed assailants, described as Fulani terrorists operating from the Bangai axis, attacked farmers working on their farmlands. The attackers shot dead Mrs Hudung Luka, a 40-year-old female farmer, and critically injured Mrs Ladi Istifanus, 50. Mrs Istifanus was rushed to a medical facility for treatment.
Later that same night, the violence spread to Sabon Layi Community in Barkin Ladi LGA, where gunmen invaded the village and brutally murdered three men. The victims were identified as Sunday, 25; Benjamin James, 33; and Godwin Yakubu, 27. The attacks did not end there. In the early hours of Sunday, 5 July 2026, the assailants struck again in Kwi Village, Riyom LGA, killing Mr Peter Bulus. The BYM noted that a total of six people lost their lives, while three others were injured in the separate attacks.
In its statement, the BYM strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as unprovoked and part of a persistent pattern of violence deliberately targeting innocent civilians, farmers, and rural communities. The group expressed deep concern over recent security intelligence reports indicating that armed Fulani terrorists are allegedly camped in different locations across Plateau State with the objective of launching coordinated attacks on vulnerable communities. "The repeated killings continue to instil fear, displace families, and threaten the livelihoods of the Berom people," the statement read.
The BYM called on security agencies to rise to their responsibilities and flush the attackers out of the affected areas, urging them to act proactively rather than waiting to respond after attacks have occurred. The group demanded immediate, intelligence-driven security operations to identify, dismantle, and neutralise terrorist camps before more innocent lives are lost. It also called on the Federal Government, the Plateau State Government, the military, the police, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to identify, arrest, and prosecute the perpetrators and their sponsors.
As of the time of this report, the spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, could not be reached for comment. The recurring violence in Plateau State, particularly in Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs, has displaced thousands of residents and heightened tensions in the region. The latest attacks have once again raised urgent questions about the government's ability to protect rural communities from persistent insecurity.
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