Nine Family Members, Infant Killed in Fresh Plateau Attack

No fewer than nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, have been killed after suspected gunmen attacked Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
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‎Residents said the assailants stormed the communities at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, opening fire indiscriminately for more than an hour. The attack also left the village head with critical injuries.
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‎A resident, Precious Tok, said the attackers arrived in large numbers and went from house to house, shooting and killing residents.
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‎According to him, the victims in one household were all members of the same family, including an infant barely two months old. He added that many residents fled into nearby bushes to escape the attack and only returned the following morning to recover the bodies.
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‎Another resident, who requested anonymity, described the incident as devastating, lamenting the persistent attacks on the community.
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‎The resident appealed to both the federal and Plateau State governments to strengthen security, noting that residents have repeatedly endured night-time assaults that leave many dead by morning.
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‎The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the attack, saying the gunmen struck while residents were asleep.
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‎He said nine members of a single family lost their lives during the invasion, while the village head sustained severe injuries and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
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‎Tengwong disclosed that security agencies had been notified and expressed hope that those responsible would be identified and prosecuted.
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‎The latest attack has left the affected communities in mourning, with residents renewing calls for improved security across Riyom and other vulnerable areas of Plateau State to end the recurring violence.
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‎Security personnel have since been deployed to Kum and Wereng-Camp, although many residents remain displaced and fearful of further attacks.
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‎Attempts to obtain an official response from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the command’s spokesperson, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached at the time of filing the report.