Tragedy struck Gako Village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night after gunmen invaded the community and killed a pastor and three members of his immediate family.
The victims, identified as Reverend Ayuba Choji, his wife Chundung Ayuba, and their two children, Cyril and Endurance Ayuba, were reportedly attacked around 11 p.m. when the assailants stormed the village and opened fire indiscriminately.
Residents said the attack threw the community into panic, forcing people to flee into nearby bushes as gunshots rang out throughout the night.
A resident, Martha Dalyop, described the situation as terrifying, saying the repeated attacks had left villagers living in constant fear.
According to her, many residents can no longer sleep in their homes or safely access their farmlands due to the worsening insecurity.
Confirming the incident, the Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association, Rwang Tengwong, said the attackers appeared to operate in coordinated groups with different roles during the assault.
He explained that while some of the attackers targeted residents, others destroyed farmlands and blocked roads to prevent escape or intervention.
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Tengwong also revealed that in the past 48 hours, farmlands in nearby Kassa in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area were destroyed, including crops such as maize, pepper, and cabbage, further deepening the hardship of farmers in the area.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau State were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attack has heightened tension in Riyom and neighbouring communities, with residents calling on security agencies to urgently intervene and end the recurring violence in the state.