Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) for Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, has made a devastating revelation following a brutal attack on Kum Community in Riyom Local Government Area: all nine victims massacred in the overnight assault were members of his extended family. Dachomo, who conducted a mass burial for the deceased on Monday, 13 July 2026, said the attack was not the first time his family had been targeted since he began drawing international attention to what he describes as genocide in Plateau State.
According to a field report, the victims, all members of the James family, were identified as Celina James, 38; Yohanna James, 21; Janet Yohanna, 18; three-month-old Jenifer Yohanna; Sele James, 18; Melody James, 16; Rito James, 10; Endurance James, 8; and Peace James, 3. The only known survivor, Pam Yohanna, sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical attention. The attack occurred late Saturday night, 11 July 2026, when suspected gunmen invaded Kum and Wereng-Camp villages, opening fire on residents. The assailants stormed the communities at about 11:30 p.m. and continued the assault for more than an hour, forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety. The village head of the community was critically injured during the attack. Security operatives from Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace, responded to a distress call and found eight residents dead, with one survivor sustaining gunshot wounds.
Speaking during the mass burial, Dachomo, visibly heartbroken, said the victims were his uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and nieces. He recalled that his own grandmother was killed and her heart cut out by terrorists, while one of his uncles was also butchered with his tongue cut out. "We are here once again to conduct another mass burial for our people, and once again, all these victims are members of my family, my own blood. And they will say there is no genocide in Plateau State," Dachomo said. He noted that Kum was his second home, where he used to visit as a child and later retreat to a mountain for quiet prayer. "Now look what the Fulani Islamic extremists have done just to target me," he added. Despite his profound grief, Dachomo said he had chosen to forgive those responsible. "Yet they will say I am lying about genocide. But I have forgiven them. Yes, Fulani killers, I have forgiven you for this murder of my family members," he declared.
Troops of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace, have arrested four suspects in connection with the attack. The suspects, identified as Abbas Musa, 27; Haruna Jibrin, 56; Hassan Ibrahim, 22; and Isah Aliyu, 50, were apprehended during a cordon-and-search operation at Luggere Fulani hamlets in neighbouring Barkin Ladi Local Government Area on 12 July 2026. The suspects are undergoing preliminary investigation to determine their involvement in the attack.
The massacre has renewed calls for stronger security measures, accountability for perpetrators, and sustained support for victims and displaced families. The Berom Youth Moulders Association condemned the killings as another episode in the persistent attacks on farming communities in the state and called on security agencies to strengthen the protection of vulnerable communities. As security forces continue intelligence-led patrols and surveillance across the Riyom–Barkin Ladi corridor, residents remain fearful of further attacks, with many still displaced.
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