Former Member of the House of Representatives for Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos, has delivered emergency relief materials to victims of the July 15 attack on Bindi community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, with a call on government at all levels to rise to their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and securing justice for displaced and bereaved citizens.
Bagos, who visited the community on Saturday, said his mission was to commiserate with the people, assess the extent of destruction, and provide immediate support to ease their burden.
He donated bundles of roofing sheets and wood to assist families whose homes were burnt during the attack, stressing that the gesture was a personal initiative under the Dachung Musa Bagos Foundation.
“We are here today not because of politics, but because of what has happened to our people. Yes, I am seeking a seat in the Senate, but that is not why I came. I came because of the pain of our people.
When something happens to one of us, it is a collective pain. We must mourn together, stand together, and assure each other that we are not alone,” Bagos said.
He urged political leaders across party lines to put human life above political loyalty, saying, “Enough is enough. Whether you’re PDP, APC, APGA, ADC, Labour or any other party, the life of a single individual comes before party. If we cannot protect our people, who will they vote for? Where will the votes come from?”
While reaffirming his foundation’s commitment to continue supporting victims, Bagos pressed for accountability, stating, “Lives were lost. Blood was shed. Who is in custody because of this? Who has been charged? Who has been convicted?”
Adding his voice, the traditional ruler of Tahos community, HRH Pastor Kim Nani, acknowledged some efforts by the government including the governor’s visit and the redeployment of Sector 6 leadership which, he said, has yielded visible results such as the arrest of over 300 stray cattle.
However, he stressed that these steps are not enough and urged the federal government to take bolder actions. “We buried 27 people, and yet the attackers returned to the burial ground. This shows they have unfinished business,” he warned, calling for state policing and direct presidential attention to the crisis, which he described as a threat to national security given the strategic location of the community.
Similarly, Rev. Davou Dabi, the leading pastor of COCIN LCC Bindi, shared a deeply emotional account of the attack, revealing that nine people were killed in his house and over two dozen of his church members lost their lives.
“I’m still traumatized. We’ve received no direct help, and many of us are now living as IDPs,” he said. While appreciating the roofing sheets brought by the government, he pleaded for more support from the Governor and NGOs to help rebuild the community and restore hope for their children’s future.
The July 15 massacre in Bindi, which claimed multiple lives and left homes razed, is among a series of coordinated attacks that have displaced thousands across Plateau’s rural communities. As humanitarian gestures fill the gap left by government absence, affected residents continue to demand justice, security, and a chance to live in peace.
