Updated: Plateau Under Siege: 10 Killed in Coordinated Bandit Raids

Updated: Plateau Under Siege: 10 Killed in Coordinated Bandit Raids

 

Fresh violence rocked Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night, leaving at least 10 people dead in coordinated attacks on Jol and Dorowa Babuje (Rob District) communities. Local leaders confirmed the assaults occurred between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm, sparking fear and outrage among residents.

The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYMA), Barrister Solomon Dalyop, told reporters that nine people were killed in Dorowa Babuje, while one person died in Jol. He said the attackers arrived on motorcycles from the Manga axis in Jol, despite prior warnings to security agencies about suspicious movements.

Operation Rainbow, Plateau State’s specialized security outfit, was already deployed in Jol and successfully repelled the attackers, helping to limit casualties. In Dorowa Babuje, the assailants were reported to have emerged from the Jong-Wereh area, where they had allegedly been camping for some time. Dalyop praised the swift intervention of the military, which prevented the death toll from rising further.

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Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls. The Nigeria Police is yet to issue a formal comment on the attacks.

The attacks come amid a disturbing pattern of insecurity in Riyom and surrounding areas, which have recently experienced repeated night raids, ambushes, and community displacement. Residents are now demanding a sustained security presence and long-term peacebuilding measures to prevent further bloodshed.

In the aftermath, youths and community leaders blocked major highways leading to Jos on Monday, protesting the killings and urging authorities to apprehend the perpetrators. Demonstrators warned that they would not clear the roads until action is taken to secure their communities.

The latest violence underscores the urgent need for enhanced security strategies, intelligence-driven policing, and federal-state collaboration to protect residents in Plateau State’s most vulnerable communities.

Updated: Plateau Under Siege: 10 Killed in Coordinated Bandit Raids