Gunmen on Wednesday reportedly killed two persons identified as  Joel Bwede, 39 and Justics Dadong, 22 in Rim and Wereng communities of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

In a statement on Thursday, the spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, said the victims’ families and community were left in grief after the attack.

“The attack in Rim on Wednesday, September 3, 2026, claimed the lives of two youths, Joel Bwede, 39, and Justics Dadong, 22, leaving their families and the community in grief,” he said.

He expressed worry that human lives were increasingly being reduced to mere numbers in recurring reports of killings, with each casualty representing a family shattered, dreams cut short and a community left traumatised. 

Mr Tengwong stated that recurring killings should not become the new normal in the state.

“The association strongly condemns the attacks and calls on the Federal and Plateau Stategovernments, as well as security agencies, to do far more to safeguard the lives and property of citizens,” he noted. 

He added that protection of lives and property is a primary responsibility of the government, as enshrined in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The group therefore demanded stronger security presence in vulnerable communities, improved intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanisms, as well as the immediate investigation, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attacks.

Mr Tengwong extended its condolences to the families of the deceased and the people of Rim, urging residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.

“The government must do more. Every life matters, and the people of Plateau deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace,”he said.

The state police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, was not immediately available for comment. Text and WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile remained unanswered as of the time this report was filed.

On August 12, gunmen killed two persons and set several houses on ablaze during invasion of four communities in the Berom area of the state.

The Peoples Gazette also reported that three brothers of the same family members were killed in Tarai community, Jol district of Riyom council area of the state.