At least 27 farmers, including men and women, are feared dead following a fresh attack by gunmen in Bindi-Jebbu, a village in the Tahoss community of Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State.
According to a report by PUNCH, the assailants stormed the community on Monday, opening fire indiscriminately and leaving many injured.
Several victims were rushed to Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Hospital for treatment.
The Chairman of Riyom LGA, Bature Shuwa, confirmed the incident but said he could not provide an exact death toll as he was en route to the affected area.
The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Dalyop Solomon, also confirmed the killings , stating that the attackers, suspected to be members of the Fulani ethnic group, fired sporadically and set several houses ablaze.
“27 persons were killed, and many were injured. We have taken the bodies to different hospitals before the burial,” Solomon said.
He added that all the corpses had been deposited at hospitals, and arrangements for their burial would be announced soon.
So far, security agencies, including Operation Safe Haven and the Plateau State Police Command, have not issued any official statements regarding the incident.
When contacted, spokespersons Major Samson Zhakom (Operation Safe Haven) and DSP Alabo Alfred (Plateau Police Command) did not respond to messages from our correspondent at the time of filing this report.
The attack adds to the growing list of violent incidents plaguing Plateau State in recent months, with local communities repeatedly targeted by armed groups.
The tragedy has triggered renewed calls for improved security in rural communities. Just last week, the Plateau State Government recruited 150 new agro-rangers to boost efforts at tackling insecurity across the state.
