Suspected Fulani militia attacked Gwon-Rim village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Wednesday morning, leaving three people dead and many others injured.
Eyewitnesses reported that over 50 heavily gunmen stormed the community, shooting sporadically while setting houses and vehicles ablaze. The attackers also looted shops, food storage facilities, and made away with livestock as terrified villagers fled into nearby bushes for safety.
Riyom LGA Chairman Hon. Sati Bature Shuwa confirmed the attack after visiting the community for assessment, describing the violence as “unprovoked and unacceptable.”
While condemning the incident, he urged residents to remain calm and assured them that security agencies had been directed to apprehend the perpetrators. The chairman later visited injured victims receiving treatment at local hospitals and reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property in the area.
The latest attack adds to the growing list of violent incidents in Plateau State, where communal clashes between farmers and herders have become frequent. Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in the Wednesday assault, further displacing residents already traumatised by previous attacks.
Local authorities are yet to release official casualty figures as security forces continue combing the area for possible missing persons.
Community leaders have appealed to both state and federal authorities to intensify security presence in vulnerable villages and address the root causes of the recurring violence.
The incident comes barely two weeks after similar attacks in neighbouring Bokkos LGA left several dead, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current security measures in the region.
Also Read:
Police assure INEC of tight security for Taraba bye-election
Lagos Assembly moves to slash agency fees on rent in new tenancy bill
Fulani herders killed in Plateau attack, MACBAN calls for restraint
