Three people killed in Plateau Local Government Area attacks

Three people have been killed in separate attacks in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. This comes as worries grow that armed groups are moving from Barkin Ladi due to heavy security operations there.

The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) shared this news in a statement on Thursday. The statement was signed by their National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong.

According to the group, armed men attacked Sol village in the Ta-Hoss community around 9:20 p.m. on Wednesday. They killed two residents named Davou Dalyop Patu, 48, and Dalyop Zaram, 38.

The association claimed the attackers ran away to a nearby settlement in Kwakwi, Ganawuri District, after the attack. BYM stated that the bodies of the victims have been taken to the General Hospital in Riyom, waiting for burial.

In another incident, another resident, Toma Chuwang, 55, was killed on Thursday morning at a mining site in Bangai, which is also in Riyom LGA. This attack reportedly happened while the bodies of the two victims from Ta-Hoss were being taken to the mortuary.

“After killing two in Ta-Hoss last night, this morning while the victims were being taken to the mortuary, one other person was killed five miles away in Bangai in the same Riyom LGA,” the statement said.

BYM is worried that the groups responsible for earlier attacks in Barkin Ladi may be moving to Riyom because of ongoing security efforts by the State Security Service (SSS) and other agencies in Barkin Ladi and nearby areas.

The group is urging both the federal and state governments to increase security forces in Riyom to stop more attacks. They also asked residents to stay alert and keep sharing information with security agencies, including Operation Enduring Peace.

These latest killings add to a series of attacks that have left many dead across Plateau State in recent weeks. On June 2, at least eight people were killed and 10 others hurt when gunmen attacked Gwon-Ajang village in Foron District of Barkin Ladi during a birthday party.

Residents reported that the attackers shot at villagers who had gathered for the celebration. Earlier, on May 11, two young men named Peter Dung, 22, and Amos Bele Danbwarang, 19, were killed in an ambush at Kyeng village in Bachi District of Riyom LGA.

The Berom Youth Moulders Association said armed men shot the victims before fleeing into the bush. On May 9, at least 12 people, including pregnant women and children, were killed in a midnight attack on Ngbra-Zongo village in Bassa LGA.

Amnesty International later condemned these killings and urged authorities to catch those responsible. Just days before the Bassa attack, gunmen attacked Nding Susut community in Barkin Ladi on May 5, killing five people, four of whom were women, along with a nine-year-old boy.

Police later sent more personnel to the affected communities. Governor Caleb Mutfwang visited some of these areas and promised to boost security measures. The renewed attacks in Riyom have made residents fear that violence might be spreading despite the ongoing security operations in various parts of the state.

As of the time of this report, security agencies had not released any official statement about the latest attacks in Riyom. Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Police Command, Alfred Alabo, by call and text were not answered.