Plateau: Terrorists kill Pastor, others in fresh attacks

At least nine persons have been killed in a fresh wave of attacks across Barkin Ladi, Riyom and neighbouring communities in Plateau dtate, with renewed gunfire forcing women and children to flee parts of Dorowa Babuje and surrounding areas.

The attacks, which occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning, September 19 and 20, 2026, came barely days after separate incidents in Jos South, Mangu and Riyom left several people dead, further deepening concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of the state.

The latest victims included five passengers travelling towards Gana-Ropp in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA), a pastor and another person who were reportedly attacked on their way to church, as well as two other residents killed in separate incidents in Riyom and Fan district. Blueprint reports

The attacks have also affected livestock and triggered fresh movement of residents from vulnerable communities, with several cattle reportedly killed or stolen around Dorowa Maranba and the Kantoma axis, Blueprint.ng reports.

Community leaders have called for an immediate strengthening of security operations in the affected areas, warning that continued attacks could further undermine confidence and disrupt the daily activities of residents.

Passengers ambushed on way to Gana-Ropp

Five of the victims were reportedly travelling as labourers to Gana-Ropp when their vehicle came under attack on Saturday night. The Pyem Youth Leader in Gana-Ropp, Ukasha Garaba, confirmed that the bodies of five passengers were evacuated from the area after the incident.

Garaba said the victims were simply travelling to the area in search of work when they were attacked, describing the incident as another painful development for communities that have continued to live under the shadow of violence.

National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, also confirmed the killings and condemned the attack, calling on security agencies to identify those responsible, arrest them and ensure they face prosecution. He said recurring attacks had continued to create fear and anguish among residents.

The spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders, Rwang Tengwong, similarly condemned the killings and urged security agencies to increase their presence in communities considered vulnerable to attacks. He called for sustained operations rather than temporary deployment after attacks have already occurred.

Pastor killed while going to church

In another attack on Sunday morning, two persons, including a pastor, were reportedly killed while travelling to church at Dorowa Babuje in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

The incident heightened tension around Kantoma and neighbouring communities, with residents reporting renewed gunshots after the killings. The development reportedly disrupted normal activities as residents became increasingly concerned about the possibility of further attacks.

A community member, Lawrence Shong, said gunshots were still being heard around midday on Sunday, prompting the evacuation of women and children from vulnerable locations.

According to him, residents were moving their families to safer areas because the shooting had continued, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty in the community. The evacuation underscores the wider humanitarian impact of the violence, as attacks are not only claiming lives but also forcing residents to abandon homes and places where they ordinarily conduct their daily activities.

Community representatives said military personnel had been deployed to the area, but they called for sustained security operations capable of protecting residents and preventing attackers from returning after security personnel withdraw.

More killings recorded in Riyom, Fan

The violence was not restricted to Barkin Ladi. A woman was reportedly killed at Baten Wereng in Riyom Local Government Area on Saturday night, while another person was killed at Ratyidi in Fan District.

The incidents add to a series of attacks recorded across Plateau in recent weeks, particularly in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Mangu and Jos South. The recurrence of attacks across adjoining communities has raised concerns among residents and community organisations about the ability of armed groups to exploit security gaps and strike at different locations.

Several cattle were also reportedly killed or stolen around Dorowa Maranba and the Kantoma axis at about 3 a.m. on Sunday. Gambo Abubakar, Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Barkin Ladi, confirmed reports of cattle being stolen and called on security agencies to investigate the incident.

The livestock losses further complicate an already fragile security environment in communities where tensions between farming and herding interests have historically contributed to cycles of violence. The latest reports, however, do not by themselves establish who was responsible for the killings or livestock incidents, and security agencies are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding each attack.

Fresh violence follows September killings

The latest attacks came after a particularly deadly period in Plateau State. On September 13, nine passengers were killed when gunmen attacked a commercial vehicle at Dungus Junction in Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area, as it travelled towards Jos. The attack occurred at about 9:30 p.m. after the driver reportedly stopped to drop off passengers. A conductor was reported to have survived the incident.

Separate attacks were also reported in Mangu and Riyom around the same period. Channels Television reported that at least 13 people were killed in attacks across Jos South, Mangu and Riyom, including the nine passengers at Dungus, while other victims were recorded in Vodni community in Pushit District of Mangu and Tahoos in Riyom.

Earlier in the same week, four people were reported killed in separate attacks on Kikyau, Larkas, Ntul and Kinat communities in Mangu Local Government Area. The Mwaghavul Development Association said the attacks occurred over three days, with one victim reportedly killed in Kinat on September 12.

The security situation also extended to the cattle-rearing communities. Community leaders told Premium Times that three herders were killed and about 50 cattle shot dead during an attack on a grazing area in Aloghom, Mangu, while another herder and 18 cattle were reportedly killed in Nyerwe, Barkin Ladi.

On September 17, three vigilantes were also reported killed after armed men attacked them while they were keeping watch over NTV community in Barkin Ladi. The incident further illustrated the risks facing local residents who participate in community-based security arrangements.

Mangu market attack adds to growing concern

Just a day before the latest Barkin Ladi and Riyom attacks, gunmen reportedly opened fire on a vehicle leaving a vegetable market in Mangu town on Friday night, killing three people and injuring several others.

The attack occurred at about 8 p.m. as traders and buyers were preparing to leave the market. According to the Mwaghavul Development Association, two women and a young man were killed, while several other people sustained injuries amid the panic and stampede that followed the shooting.

The sequence of incidents has therefore created a worrying pattern of attacks on travellers, residents, farmers, herders and people returning from ordinary daily activities. It has also placed additional pressure on security agencies to prevent attacks rather than merely respond after casualties have occurred.

Security agencies urged to sustain operations

The latest violence comes against the backdrop of intensified military and police operations in Plateau. Earlier in August, the military relocated the tactical headquarters of Operation Enduring Peace from Jos to Mangu in an effort to improve response times and maintain closer oversight of security developments in Mangu and neighbouring communities.

The Plateau state government has also held security meetings following the renewed attacks. Governor Caleb Mutfwang convened the State Security Council in early September to review emerging threats, intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation and measures for protecting lives, property and economic activities.

Following the September 12 and 13 attacks, the state government condemned the killings and appealed to residents not to resort to reprisals. It urged citizens, particularly those in affected communities, to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing further attacks and apprehending perpetrators.

Mutfwang vows to protect Plateau residents

Reacting to the renewed violence, Governor Caleb Mutfwang reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, insisting that the state would continue to work with security agencies to confront perpetrators of violence.

Mutfwang spoke on Sunday at the 2026 Plateau Annual Convention of the General Council of the Assemblies of God Nigeria, North East Zone, held at the church’s Jos District Headquarters in Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area. The convention was organised under the theme, “Breaking Barriers into Your Next Level.”

The governor said his administration would continue to deploy lawful measures to safeguard residents against banditry, criminality and other security threats, stressing that the responsibility of protecting citizens remained central to his administration.

“I cannot abandon my responsibility of securing the people of Plateau State. We will protect our people with all that we have, within the ambit of the law,” Mutfwang said.

He further declared that Plateau would not be defeated by violence or the gun, while urging residents to remain united in the face of the security challenges confronting the state.

The governor also appealed to Christian leaders to rise above their differences and contribute to reconciliation, peace and unity, stressing that collective action remained necessary to confront the challenges facing the state.

With the latest attacks occurring only days after a series of deadly incidents across Mangu, Jos South, Riyom and Barkin Ladi, residents are now looking to the security agencies for sustained protection of vulnerable communities, roads and settlements. For families who have once again been forced to flee their homes, the immediate priority remains the restoration of safety and the prevention of further loss of lives.