Over 20 persons have been confirmed dead while several others sustained injuries after suspected terrorists attacked Bindi-Jebbu community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State in the early hours of Tuesday.
The attackers reportedly stormed the village around 3:00 a.m., shooting indiscriminately and setting houses ablaze. Survivors said dozens of homes were burnt down during the assault, while victims with gunshot wounds have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The bodies of the deceased have been evacuated and deposited at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
National President of the Berom Youth Moulder Association (BYM), Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, who confirmed the attack, blamed the onslaught on terrorist cells operating in the region and accused the government of turning a blind eye to their growing presence.
“We are Nigerians. We deserve to be protected. What happened is a deliberate, coordinated attack by terrorists — not just militant herders but well-armed, organized groups.”
He decried what he described as complicity or negligence by some security operatives, alleging that calls for reinforcements during the attack went unanswered.
“The government cannot continue to feign ignorance. These are not isolated clashes; these are coordinated terrorist invasions. Arresting innocent youths while ignoring the real culprits is unacceptable,” he said.
Mwantiri also demanded the immediate release of detained youths and called for a full investigation into the conduct of security agencies during the attack.
“If the government fails to act decisively, people will be forced to resort to self-help. The constitution guarantees our right to life — and by extension, our right to defend it.”
Chairman of Riyom Local Government Council, Hon. Bature Sati Shuwa, confirmed the incident and disclosed that the LGA has lost over 70 lives to similar attacks since September last year.
“We have recorded another tragic loss of lives — over 20 people killed, homes destroyed. It’s painful,”
“There is a serious shortage of manpower. The GOC had earlier promised to send more security personnel, but that hasn’t happened yet. Our people are tired. The state and federal governments must act.” He stressed.
He urged the government to recruit more personnel and respond promptly to growing insecurity in the area.
Also, Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Simon Mwadkwon, expressed outrage over the attack and called for urgent constitutional reforms, including the establishment of state police.
The senator also stated that the attacks were clearly aimed at displacing indigenous communities.
His words “The current centralized system is failing. You cannot deploy someone from Lagos to secure a terrain he doesn’t understand, where he doesn’t speak the language or know the communities.”
“Let’s stop deceiving ourselves with the ‘farmer-herder conflict’ narrative. This is organized terrorism. They want the land. The land is fixed, but the cattle move. Who is likely to encroach?”
“Without state police, these attacks will continue. Only Nigeria insists on a centralised police system while the people continue to die. It’s time for real change.”
Also reacting, the Speaker of the Plateau State Youth Council (PYC), Aseno Amos, condemned the killings and issued a one-week ultimatum to security agencies to release detained youths who he claimed were arrested without cause.
“Enough is enough. The youth are tired of burying their loved ones. If the government cannot protect us, then we must be allowed to protect ourselves — legally and constitutionally,” he warned.
At the time of filing this report, security agencies, including Operation Safe Haven and the Plateau State Police Command, had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, despite confirmation from the local government chairman and community leaders.
