Deadly Bandit Attacks Kill 10 In Plateau State
Armed bandits carried out deadly attacks in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night, leaving at least 10 people dead in Jol and Dorowa Babuje (Rob District), local leaders have confirmed.
Barrister Solomon Dalyop, National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYMA), told Channels Television that nine people were killed in Dorowa Babuje, while one person died in Jol during nearly simultaneous assaults.
According to Dalyop, the Jol attackers arrived on motorcycles from the Manga axis despite early warnings sent to security agencies. Personnel of Operation Rainbow, Plateau State’s security task force, were already on the ground and managed to repel the attackers, limiting further casualties.
In Dorowa Babuje, the assailants were reported to have come from the Jong-Wereh area, where they were believed to have been hiding. The military responded quickly after being alerted, preventing a higher death toll.
“If not for the swift military intervention in Dorowa, the casualty figure would have been much higher. We must commend them for their rapid response,” Dalyop said.
Attempts to get an official statement from the Plateau State Police were unsuccessful, as the police public relations officer, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls. The Nigerian Police is yet to release an official comment.
The attacks underscore a persistent pattern of violence in Riyom, a flashpoint in Plateau State where farming communities have suffered repeated raids, ambushes, and displacement in recent months.
Residents of Jol and Dorowa Babuje are mourning their dead and calling for a stronger security presence. Youth groups and local leaders are urging the federal and state governments to implement lasting security and peace measures to protect communities in Riyom and surrounding areas.
