At least 20 people were killed on Monday night when gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias launched a coordinated attack on Bindi community in Ta-Hoss district of Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State. Several others were reportedly injured, while many residents fled their homes for safety.
According to a statement signed by Gideon Manjal and Gadu Daniel Dong, Chairman and Publicity Secretary of the Riyom chapter of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), the armed attackers stormed the community while residents were asleep and carried out house-to-house killings. The victims included women, children, and the elderly who could not escape.
The statement, obtained on Tuesday, alleged that the attackers were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and were identified by survivors as Fulani extremists. It further claimed that the group’s aim was to displace the indigenous population and take over the land.
“The attackers, who were properly identified as Fulani extremists by survivors, stormed the Bindi community in Ta-Hoss district of Riyom Local Government Area on Monday night and, in their regular pattern of attack which is consistent with several previous attacks across Riyom and other parts of Plateau, systematically slaughtered over 20 innocent people including women, children, and old people,” the statement read.
The Coalition expressed concern that the incident occurred despite the presence of security forces in the area, including armoured military vehicles. Several homes were reportedly set ablaze, leading to further displacement and trauma.
COPDEM accused authorities of negligence and systemic failure, stating that the hideouts of the attackers are well known to local leaders and security agencies but have not been dismantled.
“This assault occurred despite the visible presence of security forces in and around the area, including armored military assets. Homes were burned, families displaced, and trauma deepened.
“It must be clearly stated that these attackers are not unknown. Their hideouts and base settlements in nearby enclaves have been repeatedly identified and reported by community leaders and local authorities. Yet, year after year, these known threats continue to strike with impunity, often unchallenged.”
The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Plateau State government, and relevant security agencies to launch a high-level military intervention to dismantle terrorist hideouts. It also urged the government to declare a state of emergency in the affected areas and to provide humanitarian relief, trauma support, and reconstruction assistance.
“Our people are being buried daily. We are tired of condolence visits and silence. We are tired of press statements that do not translate to protection.
“The community of Ta-Hoss, like Jol, Rim, Bachi, Wereng, Nding, and other previously hit areas, deserves more than sympathy. They deserve security, dignity, and justice,” the statement added.
