Gunmen Kill Soldier, Three Civilians in Night Attack on Plateau Village, Injure Several Others

Gunmen have killed a soldier and three civilians in a night attack on Bel village in the Sho community of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, with several other residents injured.

The attack occurred at about 9 p.m. on Sunday when the gunmen stormed the community and opened fire on residents.

A resident, Mr Bulus Bot, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers invaded the village at night and shot indiscriminately at innocent citizens. “The gunmen stormed the community at about 9 p.m. and opened fire on innocent citizens, leaving some people dead and others injured,” he said.

The Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, also confirmed the killings and identified three of the victims as Emmanuel Pam Dachung, 15; Joseph Gyang, 28; and Emmanuel Yohanna, 32. He said a soldier was also among those killed, bringing the death toll to four.

Tengwong condemned the attack, describing the killing of innocent residents as unacceptable, and called on security operatives to track down those responsible. He urged security agencies to ensure the perpetrators were identified and brought to justice, stressing the need for decisive action to prevent further attacks on communities in the area.

The attack was part of a violent weekend in Plateau State. Tengwong said that about two hours earlier, at around 5 p.m. on Sunday, gunmen attacked Gwol-Hoss village in Riyom Local Government Area, killing 65-year-old Danladi Badung.

Two other victims of the Bel village attack, Bala Kefas Dachung, 26, and Vivian Christopher, 26, sustained injuries. Christopher was said to be in critical condition at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, where surgeons removed six bullets during an operation.

“The killing of a minor and a soldier, alongside the injuries sustained by other victims, highlights the gravity of the security situation and raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the existing curfew in Barkin Ladi and the capacity of security agencies to protect vulnerable communities,” Tengwong said.

The Berom Youth Moulders Association called on the Plateau State Government, the police, the Department of State Services and the military to immediately investigate both attacks, apprehend the perpetrators and ensure their prosecution.

It also urged the authorities to strengthen security presence across vulnerable communities and establish effective early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms.

Efforts to get a reaction from security operatives on the attack were unsuccessful. The spokesperson for Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh, promised to revert to correspondents but had yet to respond as of press time, while the state police spokesman, Alfred Alabo, could not be reached for comment.