More than 20 people have been killed after armed men invaded Binper community in Kombun District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, attacking residents in their homes in the early hours of Tuesday.
The attackers reportedly stormed the community between Monday night and early Tuesday while residents were asleep and moved from house to house, forcing their way into homes and killing victims.
An eyewitness, Daniel Musa, said more than 20 deaths had been confirmed as of Tuesday morning, while several others sustained serious injuries and some residents were still missing.
“Our village came under attack last night and in the early hours of today, Tuesday, by heavily armed persons,” Musa was quoted as saying.
He said the attackers moved from one house to another, opening the doors of sleeping residents and attacking them.
The attack was also confirmed by the National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, according to reports.
The casualty figure, however, remained fluid as residents and security agencies continued efforts to ascertain the number of victims.
The Plateau State Police Command initially received a report indicating 18 casualties but said the figure had risen to more than 20 as information from the community continued to emerge.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, said the Commissioner of Police, Ayodeji Faniyan, alongside other senior officers, was heading to the area to assess the situation.
Local sources also alleged that the attackers entered the community through a river in an attempt to evade security alerts and reached the village while residents were asleep.
One of the sources claimed residents had received information about a possible attack on communities in the district and had heightened their alertness, but said the attackers allegedly used the river route to gain access to Binper.
The source said the attackers subsequently moved from house to house, breaking down doors and attacking residents before fleeing through the same route.
Another source, however, disputed the claim that residents had been adequately warned ahead of the attack, saying many people were caught unaware.
He also claimed that an entire family was killed during the attack and put the death toll at about 24, although that figure could not be independently verified.
Several injured victims were reportedly taken to nearby health facilities for treatment, while residents and community leaders continued efforts to account for missing persons.
The latest attack adds to the long-running security challenges in Mangu, one of Plateau’s areas repeatedly affected by communal violence.
Binper itself has previously been identified as one of the communities in Kombun District affected by insecurity. In March 2024, residents told The PUNCH that attacks and destruction of farmlands had made it difficult for them to cultivate their crops and live safely in the area.
The fresh killings have again raised concerns over the safety of rural communities in Plateau, particularly at night, and the ability of security agencies to respond quickly to attacks in remote settlements.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack, and the identities and motives of the attackers had not been officially established.
