Plateau Killings: Tragic Attack Leaves 8 Dead, Homes Burnt, Kids Hurt

Plateau Killings: Tragic Attack Leaves 8 Dead, Homes Burnt, Kids Hurt

Plateau killings have once again thrown a peaceful village into chaos. In a fresh wave of violence, gunmen stormed Wereng Camp in Riyom, Plateau State, leaving eight people dead. The victims included children and the elderly, many of whom were asleep when the attackers struck in the dead of night.

Dozens more suffered injuries. Several families are now mourning while others sit beside the wounded in hospitals, hoping their loved ones recover. The attackers not only killed, but they looted food and set homes on fire, reducing the community to ash and silence.

A man from the village, who asked not to be named, described the horror. “They came when it was dark. We heard gunshots and screams. The children and the old couldn’t run,” he said, his voice shaking. “We need help.”

This heartbreaking assault comes shortly after Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang made a desperate plea to President Bola Tinubu. The governor had begged for urgent federal help, warning that attacks were becoming too frequent. He had also placed a ban on night grazing and restricted motorcycle movement from 7pm to 6am across the state to curb the violence.

Despite these efforts, the attackers struck again. This silence from security agencies is becoming more painful than the sound of gunfire. As of now, neither the Plateau State Police Command nor any federal force has officially responded to the fresh killings.

Governor Mutfwang wasted no time. He visited the community, meeting with grieving families and seeing firsthand the destruction caused by the gunmen. He has continued to call for stronger security presence in these vulnerable communities. “These killings must stop,” he said. “We can’t allow our people to live in fear.”

This is not an isolated tragedy. For months, communities in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Riyom LGAs have faced repeated attacks. Armed men sweep through villages, destroy homes, and kill without mercy. Families in these areas now sleep with one eye open.

The violence is not only killing people but also tearing the spirit of the land. Markets are closing early. Farmlands are deserted. Schoolchildren can no longer move freely. Mothers now worry more about survival than feeding their children. The air is thick with fear, and even churches are praying with one eye on the door.

In response to the rising death toll, President Tinubu recently summoned his top security chiefs to an emergency meeting. Present at the Villa were National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa. This meeting came shortly after the president returned from a trip to Europe. The number of civilians reportedly killed in the last few months is said to be over 120.

But Plateau residents say they are tired of meetings. They want action, not promises. Many believe the federal government is not moving fast enough to stop the killings. The latest attack only adds to their fear.

The situation boiled over in Jos when angry citizens, led by the Plateau chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Polycarp Lubo, took to the streets. They blocked major roads and marched toward the Government House, demanding an end to what they described as “Fulani militant attacks.”

The protest was loud and emotional. Placards read, “We Are Not Safe,” and “Justice for Bokkos and Riyom.” Many of the demonstrators had lost someone to the crisis. “We are being hunted in our own land,” one woman cried. “We bury our children more than we feed them.”

Behind these statistics are real people. A boy lost his parents. A woman now sleeps in a neighbor’s shed because her home was burned. An elderly man nurses a bullet wound without proper medical care. Their stories must be told.

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Governor Mutfwang says he will not stop pressing until Plateau is safe again. He urged the federal government to deploy more troops and intelligence agents to affected areas. “Security is the right of every Nigerian,” he added. “We won’t give up.”

In Plateau, the people are asking only one thing: safety. They want to farm in peace, raise their children without fear, and sleep without gunshots echoing through the night.

1. For now, the ashes in Wereng Camp are a reminder that this cry for help remains unanswered.