Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
No fewer than nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, were killed in a fresh attack by suspected gunmen on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State late Saturday night, 11 July 2026. The attack, according to residents, began at about 11:30 p.m. and lasted for more than one hour, leaving the village head of the community critically injured after he was allegedly attacked by the assailants.
A resident, Precious Tok, told Vanguard that the victims were slaughtered in their home during the coordinated assault, describing the incident as one of the deadliest attacks witnessed in the area in recent times. He said the gunmen invaded the communities in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately and forcing terrified residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, who confirmed the attack, said the assailants struck under the cover of darkness and unleashed violence on helpless residents. According to him, the attack wiped out nine members of one family, including a two-month-old infant, while the village head sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
In a press statement signed by Tengwong and made available to journalists in Jos on Sunday, 12 July 2026, the Berom Youth Moulders Association said the assault was carried out by armed bandits and terrorist gangs from the Fass area, one of the notorious terrorist enclaves in and around the Jol Community. Those killed in the attack have been identified as Mrs Celina James, 38; Mr Yohanna James, 21; Mrs Janet Yohanna, 18; Baby Jennifer Yohanna, 3 months; Miss Sele James, 18; Miss Melody James, 16; Reto James, 10; Endurance James, 8; and Peace James, 3.
Mr Pam Yohanna, 40, sustained life-threatening injuries and is currently battling for his life after the coordinated assault. The Berom Youth Moulders Association expressed deep concern over the sustained pattern of violent attacks targeting predominantly Christian farming communities. The group said the latest massacre is yet another painful reminder of the recurring attacks that continue to claim the lives of innocent civilians across Plateau State and other parts of North-Central Nigeria.
"Entire families have been wiped out, villages repeatedly invaded, homes destroyed, and thousands of residents displaced from their ancestral communities. The frequency of these attacks, the scale of civilian casualties, and the destruction of homes and livelihoods underscore the urgent need for stronger protection of vulnerable communities and meaningful accountability for those responsible," the association stated.
The group called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities, dismantle terrorist hideouts, apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of these attacks, and ensure justice for victims and their families. The association also urged the government to provide adequate humanitarian assistance and support for displaced persons whose lives have been devastated by the violence.
The latest attack has thrown the affected communities into mourning, with residents urging the Federal and Plateau State governments to strengthen security across Riyom and other vulnerable communities to halt the recurring attacks. As of the time of filing this report, security personnel had reportedly been deployed to the affected communities, while many residents remained displaced and fearful of further attacks. Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful.
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