Renewed violence struck Riyom Local Government Area in Plateau State on Sunday night when armed bandits carried out coordinated assaults on Jol community and Dorowa Babuje (Rob District), killing no fewer than 10 people between 8:00pm and 9:00pm, according to local leaders.
The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYMA), Barrister Solomon Dalyop, revealed this during a telephone conversation with a Channels Television correspondent in Jos. He said nine victims were recorded in Dorowa Babuje, while one person was killed in Jol in the separate but nearly simultaneous incidents.
Dalyop stated that the attackers who stormed Jol rode in on motorcycles from the Manga axis, despite prior alerts to security agencies about suspicious movements in the area.
He noted that operatives of Operation Rainbow, Plateau State’s security task force, were already deployed and managed to repel the attackers, thereby reducing the number of casualties.
In Dorowa Babuje, he explained that the assailants reportedly came from the Jong-Wereh area, where they were believed to have been camped for some time. He added that the military was quickly notified and responded promptly, preventing further loss of life.
“If not for the quick intervention of the military in Dorowa, the casualty figure would have been much higher. We must commend them for their swift response,” Dalyop stated.
Attempts to get an official response from the police were unsuccessful, as the Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, did not answer calls as of press time. The Nigeria Police Force has yet to release a formal statement regarding the attacks.
The latest incident adds to a troubling pattern of recurring violence in Riyom, regarded as one of Plateau State’s most volatile areas, where farming communities have faced repeated night raids, ambushes, and displacement in recent months.
Residents of Jol and Dorowa Babuje remain anxious as families grieve and appeal for a sustained security presence to avert further attacks.
Community leaders and youth groups have also renewed appeals to federal and state authorities to implement lasting security strategies and peacebuilding initiatives in Riyom and surrounding areas.