Another Plateau Community Falls: 20 Killed in Overnight Gunmen Attack

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias launched a deadly overnight assault on the Bindi community in Ta-Hoss district, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing at least 20 people on Monday night. The attack left many others injured and forced residents to flee their homes in search of safety.

According to a statement by the Riyom chapter of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), signed by Chairman Gideon Manjal and Publicity Secretary Gadu Daniel Dong, the attackers stormed the community under the cover of darkness and carried out a house-to-house operation, killing women, children, and the elderly—many of whom were unable to escape.

Survivors identified the attackers as Fulani extremists, armed with sophisticated weapons and acting with what the Coalition described as a clear intent to “exterminate the people and take over their land.” The group noted that the pattern of violence mirrors previous assaults in Riyom and other parts of Plateau State, where communities have repeatedly suffered similar fates.

Despite the presence of security personnel and military assets in the area, the assailants carried out the killings unchallenged, torching homes and displacing families. COPDEM condemned the failure of authorities to act on prior intelligence, saying the attackers are known and their hideouts have long been reported by local leaders. The group described the attack as part of a recurring wave of violence that points to systemic negligence and a breakdown in state protection.

The Coalition called on President Bola Tinubu, the Plateau State government, and national security agencies to launch a decisive military operation to dismantle the identified terrorist camps. They demanded the declaration of a state of emergency in the affected regions, the provision of humanitarian relief, and long-term support for rebuilding traumatized communities.

Expressing frustration over the government’s response to the crisis, the group decried the continued cycle of mass burials, condolence visits, and empty promises. “We are tired of condolence visits and silence. We are tired of press statements that do not translate to protection,” the statement read.

Communities like Ta-Hoss, Jol, Rim, Bachi, Wereng, and Nding—many of which have previously endured similar tragedies—deserve more than sympathy, the group asserted. They called for concrete action to restore security, dignity, and justice to the people of Plateau State.