By Peter Omopo
Gunmen have killed at least six people in a deadly attack on Kakuruk village in Gashish District and Marit community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, prompting renewed outrage over the state of security in the region.
The attack, which occurred at about 8:11 p.m. on May 4, 2025, left several others injured, including a 7-year-old girl and three women. Victims of the attack include 44-year-old Nyam Davou, 40-year-old Kande Thoma, and her six-month-old baby.
Confirming the incident on Tuesday in Jos, the National President of the Berom Youths Moulders Association (BYM), Solomon Dalyop, described the killings as part of a disturbing trend of violence in the area. He criticised the failure of authorities to act on early warnings of suspicious movements by suspected bandits disguised as herders.
“These attackers continue to exploit gaps in security deployment, targeting vulnerable villages and killing indiscriminately, including women and children,” Dalyop said.
Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred, were unsuccessful, as his phone line remained switched off at the time of filing this report.
In a separate statement, BYM Secretary General Bature Adazaram condemned the killings, alleging that the assailants were Fulani militants. He warned that the attacks appear to be part of a broader campaign to displace communities and seize ancestral lands.
The group called on security agencies to intensify their operations and adopt a more decisive approach to tackling rising insecurity in the state. It also urged the government to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the Gashish attack.
The latest incident adds to a growing list of violent attacks in Plateau State, which has been plagued by recurring communal clashes and armed assaults in recent years.
