Three-month-old, eight other family members killed in fresh Plateau attack
Gunmen on Saturday night attacked Wereng-camp and Kum villages in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing nine members of the family of 40-year-old Pam Yohanna, who also sustained life-threatening injuries.
The attack began at about 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and lasted for more than an hour into the early hours of Sunday, according to a statement sent to the Peoples Gazette by Rwang Tengwong, the spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders Association.
Mr Tengwong alleged that armed bandits from the Fass area around the Jol community carried out the attack.
He identified the victims as Celina James, 38; Yohanna James, 21; Janet Yohanna, 18; three-month-old Jennifer Yohanna; Sele James, 18; Melody James, 16; Reto James, 10; Endurance James, 8; and Peace James, 3.
According to him, this latest massacre is yet another painful reminder of the recurring attacks that continue to claim the lives of innocent civilians across Plateau State and other parts of North-Central Nigeria.
“Entire families have been wiped out, villages repeatedly invaded, homes destroyed, and thousands of residents displaced from their ancestral communities,” he said.
The group expressed deep concern over the sustained pattern of violent attacks targeting predominantly Christian farming communities.
“The frequency of these attacks, the scale of civilian casualties, and the destruction of homes and livelihoods underscore the urgent need for stronger protection of vulnerable communities and meaningful accountability for those responsible.
“We call on the federal government of Nigeria to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities, dismantle terrorist hideouts, apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of these attacks, and ensure justice for victims and their families,” he added.
The group further urged the government to provide adequate humanitarian assistance and support for displaced persons whose lives have been devastated by the violence.
Mr Tengwong said the continued bloodshed in Plateau State must not be ignored, adding that innocent men, women and children deserve protection, justice and lasting peace.
The Plateau State police spokesman, Alfred Alabo, was not available for comment. SMS sent to him remained unanswered as of press time.
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