Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The phone call came in at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2026. Residents of Gonifal Village in Ganawuri District, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, were under attack. By the time troops of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace, arrived, the assailants had already fled, leaving behind four victims with deep machete wounds and a community gripped by fear.
The operation, carried out by troops of the Joint Task Force under Operation Enduring Peace, was triggered by a distress report from residents who had come under assault by suspected Fulani militias. According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, who disclosed details of the incident, the troops moved swiftly into the community and disrupted the attackers' activities, forcing them to retreat before they could inflict further harm. Following the attackers' withdrawal, the soldiers conducted a search of the area, during which they discovered four residents hiding inside a house, all bearing machete injuries sustained during the assault.
The victims were identified as Bagu Mabuly, Ngyuk Bagu, Musa Bagu and Chen Bagu. Their names suggest they may be members of the same family, a detail that underscores the personal tragedy behind the statistics of violence that have become routine in Plateau State. The four were evacuated to Ganawuri Maternity Clinic, where they received first aid treatment for their wounds. Their current condition has not been disclosed, but medical personnel at the facility are reportedly working to stabilise them.
Following the rescue, troops launched a manhunt for the fleeing attackers. Security operatives are combing the surrounding areas in an attempt to identify and apprehend those responsible for the assault. The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the number of attackers involved and their motive, have not been fully established. No arrests had been confirmed as of the time of reporting.
The attack on Gonifal Village is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have made Riyom Local Government Area one of the most dangerous places to live in Plateau State. The area has witnessed repeated attacks, communal clashes and security operations over the years. On September 3, 2026, two people were killed in an attack on Rim and Wereng communities in Riyom. The victims were identified as Joel Bwede, aged 39, and Justice Dadong. On September 10, troops of Sector 6 rescued three passengers who sustained gunshot injuries during an attack by suspected kidnappers along the Jos–Makarfi highway in Riyom. Earlier in September, two security operatives were killed in a suspected ambush during a joint security patrol along the Ganawuri–Sabon Gida Road in Riyom. The pattern is relentless. Attacks occur, troops respond, victims are rescued or buried, and the cycle repeats.
The broader context of the violence in Plateau State is complex. The conflicts have been characterised by a mix of farmer-herder tensions, communal rivalries, and the activities of armed groups who exploit the region's difficult terrain and weak security presence. In recent weeks, the violence has escalated. On September 15, 2026, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, visited Plateau State following a series of attacks that left at least nine commuters dead. The IGP pledged tougher security measures and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to restoring order. Yet, two days after his visit, Gonifal Village was attacked.
The Nigerian military has maintained a significant presence in Plateau State through Operation Enduring Peace, a Joint Task Force that includes personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Department of State Services, and other security agencies. The operation has recorded successes in rescuing victims, arresting suspects, and recovering weapons. But the persistence of attacks suggests that the security challenges in Plateau State are deeply entrenched and cannot be resolved through military operations alone. Community engagement, intelligence gathering, and addressing the root causes of the violence, including land disputes and ethnic tensions, are essential components of any lasting solution.
For the people of Gonifal Village, the attack on Thursday night was a terrifying reminder of their vulnerability. They live in a region where the sound of gunfire and the sight of machete-wielding assailants have become part of the fabric of daily life. The troops who rescued the four victims are heroes in the moment, but the fear that gripped the community will not dissipate with the dawn. The attackers are still at large. The manhunt continues. The residents remain vigilant, as they have been taught to be, reporting suspicious movements and praying that the next attack does not come.
As the sun rose over Gonifal Village on Friday morning, the four victims were receiving treatment at the clinic in Ganawuri. Their wounds will heal, but the trauma of the attack will linger. The troops continue their search, combing the bushes and villages for any sign of the fleeing attackers. The people of Riyom wait and watch, hoping that this time, the manhunt will succeed and that the cycle of violence will finally be broken. But they have hoped before. The question that hangs over Gonifal Village, and over Plateau State itself, is whether this attack will be the one that finally prompts decisive and sustained action, or whether it will simply become another entry in the long and bloody record of violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt.
The military has urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to security agencies. The operation in Gonifal is part of ongoing efforts by security forces in Plateau State to maintain peace and protect communities. But peace, in this part of Nigeria, remains a fragile and elusive thing, and the people of Riyom know that the next attack could come at any time.
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