At least six people have been killed in a fresh attack by gunmen in Marit village and Gashish district of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation, with leaders and community members calling for increased security measures to prevent further attacks.
The National President of the Berom Youths Moulders Association, Solomon Dalyop, who confirmed the killings in Jos on Tuesday, said the attack occurred on May 4, 2025, at around 8:11 pm in Kakuruk village, Gashish District.
He said the victims include Mr. Nyam Davou, 44 years old, Mrs. Kande Thoma, 40 years old and Kande’s 6-month-old baby.
He added that four others were injured in the attack, including a 7-year-old girl and three women.
“It should be on record that the ongoing dastardly acts of the bandits, as well as the terrorism being meted out, are not surprising but rather disturbing.
“This is because, early warning signals and alerts about the influx of suspected bandits in the guise of Fulani reliably given before time have, unarguably, been sent to appropriate authorities, yet the attackers continue to take advantage of the inadequacy of security manpower to hit at vulnerable areas and villages, sparing no one, including women and little children, as depicted in the last night attack,” Dalyop said
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred, was not immediately available as his phone line indicated that it was switched off.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued by the Secretary General of the Berom Youths Moulders Association, Bature Adazaram, the group condemned the attack, alleging that the gunmen who carried out the killings were Fulani militants.
The group expressed concern that the attack was part of a larger effort to grab land and intimidate residents.
The BYM called on security agencies to take a more kinetic approach to neutralise the potential danger in crisis-prone areas. They also urged the authorities to discreetly trail and arrest the perpetrators of the Gashish attacks and subject them to the full wrath of the law.
The group passed a vote of confidence in Operation Safe Haven, the Nigerian Police Force, and the Department of State Security Services for their responses that have saved many lives.
“The BYM is hereby calling on security agencies, particularly Operation Safe Haven-OPSH, Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Security Services and others to, again and as a matter of urgency, invoke a kinetic approach maximally to neutralise the potential danger beckoning for the bloodshed of unsuspecting inhabitants in crisis-prone areas so as to avert another round of impending genocide on the Plateau.
“We similarly call on the appropriate authorities to discreetly trail and arrest the perpetrators of Gashish attacks, and subject them to the full wrath of our extant laws while those previously arrested in connection to other killings and arms deals be publicly prosecuted dispassionately,” the statement said
The Executive Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Council, Stephen Pwajok Gyang, also condemned the attack, describing it as a “resurgence of violence” in the area.
He called on security agencies to be more proactive and vigilant in preventing further attacks.
“The Executive Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Council, Hon. Stephen Pwajok Gyang, has vehemently condemned the recent attacks that resulted in the loss of six innocent lives in Marit village and Gashish district. During a visit to Barkin Ladi General Hospital, Hon. Pwajok expressed profound sadness and disappointment over the resurgence of violence in the area. This is particularly concerning at a time when the local government administration is working tirelessly to promote peace and stability. He admonished the healthcare personnel to urgently attend to the health needs of the survivors of the attack.
“Hon. Pwajok acknowledged the efforts of vigilantes and security agencies in maintaining law and order while urging them to be more proactive and vigilant in preventing further attacks. He emphasized that the cycle of violence must be brought to an end and called on all relevant stakeholders, including security agencies, community leaders, and residents, to join hands in promoting peace and security in Barkin Ladi. He prayed for God’s comfort and peace for the families and communities affected by the attacks.
“At the burial of the three victims of yesterday’s attack in Kakuruk, Gashish District, the Chairman, represented by the Council Secretary, Hon. Joshua Chong, expressed his sadness and reiterated his condolences to the families and community. Hon. Chong prayed for God’s comfort and strength during this difficult time and echoed his call for security agents to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly act and take decisive action to end the attacks.
“The Gwom Rwei Gashish, Da. Prof. Nuhu Gwom Gwok also lamented the resurgence of killings among his people and called for the security agencies to urgently go after the perpetrators of these attacks and be more proactive” in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman Barkin-Ladi Local Government Council, Mercy Yop Chuwang said
The attacks have reportedly raised concerns about the security situation in Plateau State, with many residents fearing for their safety.
The BYM has warned that there are intelligence reports indicating that more bandits have been brought into the state to unleash further terror attacks.