At least nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, were killed in a late-night attack on Kum community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack, which residents attributed to suspected armed assailants, occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and reportedly lasted for more than an hour. The village head of the community also sustained critical injuries.
A resident, Precious Tok, said the attackers stormed the community in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately before attacking homes.
“The gunmen came in large numbers, shooting everywhere. We could hear screams from the houses. They entered homes and killed people. It was one of the deadliest attacks we have seen here in recent times,” Tok said.
According to the resident, nine members of a single family were killed during the attack, including a two-month-old infant, while many villagers fled into nearby bushes for safety.
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as devastating and appealed to the government to strengthen security in the area.
The Berom Youths Moulders Association (BYM), Riyom District, also condemned the attack in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Vincent Caleb Alamba.
The association alleged that the attack was carried out by suspected armed Fulani assailants operating from the Fass axis and described the incident as a tragic reminder of the persistent insecurity affecting communities in Riyom Local Government Area.
BYM called on the Federal Government, the Plateau State Government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation, apprehend those responsible and strengthen security in vulnerable communities to prevent further attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident or confirm the identities of the attackers.
