Fresh Plateau Attacks: Pastor, Eight Others Killed As Residents Flee Communities

At least nine people have reportedly been killed in fresh attacks across Barkin Ladi, Riyom and neighbouring communities in Plateau State, with the incidents triggering tension and the evacuation of women and children.

Five of the victims were reportedly passengers travelling to Gana-Ropp in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area when they were attacked on Saturday night.

Two other people, including a pastor, were also reportedly killed while on their way to church at Dorowa Bubuje on Sunday morning.

A woman was reportedly killed at Baten Wereng in Riyom Local Government Area on Saturday night, September 19, while another person was killed at Ratyidi in Fan District.

Several cattle were also reportedly killed or stolen at Dorowa Maranba and the Kantoma axis around 3am on Sunday.

The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, confirmed the killing of the five passengers at Gana-Ropp and called on security agencies to apprehend those responsible.

The Pyem Youth Leader in Gana-Ropp, Ukasha Garaba, said the victims were passengers travelling to the area as labourers.

“We evacuated the corpses of five persons from Gana-Ropp. They were passengers who were travelling as labourers,” he said.

The spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders, Rwang Tengwong, also confirmed the attacks, describing the killings as disturbing and unacceptable.

Meanwhile, tension reportedly intensified in Dorowa Bubuje following renewed gunshots heard from the direction of Kantoma.

The development prompted the evacuation of women and children from the community to safer locations.

A resident, Lawrence Shong, said gunshots were still being heard around midday on Sunday.

“As I speak to you, at about 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, we are still hearing sounds of gunshots. Women and children are currently being evacuated because of the ongoing attack,” he said.

Tengwong, who was reportedly in the community, said military personnel had been deployed but called for sustained security presence to protect residents and prevent further attacks.

The Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Barkin Ladi, Gambo Abubakar, also confirmed reports of cattle being stolen and urged security agencies to investigate the incident.
Reacting to the renewed violence, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

Mutfwang spoke on Sunday at the 2026 Plateau Annual Convention of the General Council of the Assemblies of God Nigeria, North East Zone, held at the Assemblies of God Nigeria, Jos District Headquarters, Gyel, along the Bukuru Expressway in Jos South Local Government Area.

The convention was held under the theme, “Breaking Barriers into Your Next Level.”

The governor said his administration would continue to work with security agencies to confront perpetrators of violence and restore lasting peace.

“I cannot abandon my responsibility of securing the people of Plateau State. We will protect our people with all that we have, within the ambit of the law,” he said.

“Plateau State will not be defeated by violence or the gun. We must remain united because our collective strength is critical to overcoming the challenges confronting us.”

Meanwhile, some teenage and adult miners have returned to the M.I. Wushishi mining site in Minna, Niger State, despite an ongoing crackdown on suspected illegal mining activities.

The miners reportedly insisted that they had no alternative source of livelihood and were prepared to continue working at the site.

Their return followed operations conducted by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) around the Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna on September 15 and 16.

The operation reportedly resulted in the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners.

Suberu Aniviye, the suspended NSCDC commandant in Niger State, subsequently said that scores of detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of Thursday following what was described as a suspected disease outbreak.

Despite the reported deaths, miners were seen back at the site on Saturday, carrying out their activities.

During a visit to the mining site, no security personnel were reportedly seen in the area as miners dug for gold using shovels, picks and other hand tools.

Some miners were seen scooping loose soil into sacks and pans, while others used a nearby stream to separate excavated materials. Freshly dug earth and muddy soil were also scattered across the site.

One of the miners, Salisu DanMallam, said he had stayed away from the site for two days following the NSCDC operation.

“I wasn’t here when the incident happened on Monday and they made the arrest,” he said.

“I did not come out again since they made the arrest. I was not here on Tuesday and Wednesday because of the way the civil defence raided and that was why I did not come out.”

DanMallam, who said he had been involved in mining at the location for more than 15 years, said his absence from the site immediately affected his income.

He explained that many of the miners had developed close relationships over the years and regarded one another as family. “We just treat each other like family here,” he said.

However, DanMallam said he could not confirm how many miners had died or remained in detention following the arrests.

“I have not ascertained the number of people who are dead or alive. I know that some people were arrested but I haven’t seen them,” he said.

He also said miners generally avoided digging too deeply because of the risk of landslides.

“Even if we dig, we don’t dig beyond our knee level. We don’t dig much because of landslide,” he added.

DanMallam said he also worked as a driver for a block-making business but considered mining more financially viable.

Another miner, 26-year-old Buhari Rabiu, said he had worked at the site for about two years.

Rabiu said he fled the area with other miners after receiving information that NSCDC officers were approaching.

“I was informed earlier that the officers were coming. One of the women informed us, and we left,” he said. “Not long after we left, we heard that civil defence was arresting us.”

Rabiu also alleged that he had previously been arrested and assaulted by NSCDC personnel during a raid on suspected illegal miners.

According to him, he sustained injuries during the encounter and was taken to hospital for treatment before his release after his parents intervened.

“When my parents wanted to bail me, they insisted that NSCDC must treat me. They took me to the hospital to stitch my wounds,” he alleged.

Rabiu further claimed that N120,000 was collected for his release and alleged that one of his friends was shot at close range by NSCDC personnel during an encounter with miners.

He said his experience had not deterred him from returning to the mining site because mining remained his major means of livelihood.

The allegations by the miners against NSCDC personnel could not be independently established from the accounts provided.