At least twenty people were killed and many others injured when armed assailants attacked Bindi village in Plateau State’s Riyom Local Government Area late Monday night.
The brutal assault marks the latest in a series of violent attacks targeting rural communities across the state.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers descended on the Ta-Hoss District village while residents slept, conducting a methodical house-to-house assault.
The victims included women, children, and elderly villagers who couldn’t escape the onslaught. Survivors described the gunmen as heavily armed and highly coordinated.
Senator Pam Dachungyang (Plateau North) strongly condemned what he called a “war situation,” linking the attack to previous assaults in Jol and Rim villages. In a statement signed by his media aide Eric Dung, the senator declared:
“This cycle of daily, unprovoked attacks is an indictment on all of us. The situation in Bindi (Jebu) last night is beyond tragic and stands to be condemned by all. These are people whose primary occupation is farming, and the continued violence is not only destroying lives but also threatening food security and livelihoods.”
The senator revealed he had engaged National Assembly leadership to demand an enhanced military response against the attackers. He specifically called for restructuring Plateau’s security framework, including the Special Task Force operating in the region.
The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy Riyom Chapter issued a scathing statement through its leaders Gideon Manjal (Chairman) and Gadu Dong (Publicity Secretary), alleging the attack was part of a land-grabbing campaign:
“This assault occurred despite the visible presence of security forces in and around the area, including armored military assets. The identities and hideouts of these attackers are known to authorities, yet no meaningful action has been taken to dismantle them.”
COPDEM accused state and federal authorities of failing to protect vulnerable communities, noting repeated attacks in Ta-Hoss, Jol, Rim and Bachi have gone unchecked. The group demanded President Tinubu and Governor Mutfwang immediately launch full-scale military operations against the terrorists while providing humanitarian aid and trauma support for survivors.
