A pastor of the Church of Christ in Nation, Rev. Nicodemus Kim, and 20 others have been killed by suspected gunmen in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
The pastor was killed in the Gana-Ropp community of Barkin Ladi, while others were killed in the Rim, Jol, and Kwi communities of Riyom.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement, a socio-cultural group, Mr. Rwang Tengwong, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Jos.
Tengwong stated that the communities were attacked simultaneously, adding that the attacks were highly coordinated.
The attacks occurred on Sunday night, leaving many people with various degrees of injuries. Scores of people have been displaced.
“Twenty-one (21) persons were killed and several others injured on Sunday during coordinated attacks by militias on residents of Rim, Jol, Kwi communities of Riyom as well as Gana-Ropp community in Barkin Ladi.
“Two persons were killed at Rim, Seven at Jol, 11 at Kwi, all in Riyom, while a clergyman, Rev. Nichodemus Kim, was killed in Gana-Ropp Barkin Ladi.
“The attacks on Rim, Jol and Kwi were simultaneously coordinated and held between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday.
“In Kwi, an entire community, Hei-gwe, was razed and over 100 farmlands destroyed,” he said.
Tengwong urged the government and security agencies to develop permanent solutions to the frequent attacks and killings in communities.
He also condemned the coordinated attacks and other forms of provocation inflicted on innocent people of Plateau after the 2023 general elections.
BYM, under the leadership of Solomon Mwantiri, expressed its condemnation of the attacks.
“We call on the new administration, both at the federal and state levels, to come up with new strategies to address the security situation in the country and particularly in Plateau.
“Security personnel must also wake up to their statutory responsibilities to safeguard lives and property.
“BYM equally calls on the Berom nation to remain calm and law abiding, but they must explore every avenue to defend their communities, as we cannot sit and watch while they kill us one after another,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, DSP Alabo Alfred, was not available for comments. However, the Governor of the State, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, confirmed the killings in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr Gyang Bere.
The Governor also confirmed the kidnapping of a traditional ruler in Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area of the State. He assured the residents of the state of his commitment to addressing the spate of attacks, killings, kidnappings, and other security challenges currently facing the state.
“Let me assure the people that we are retooling the security apparatus of the state and by the special grace of God, we will have a secured Plateau,” he said.
The Governor called on the residents of the state to keep aside their differences and unite towards moving the state forward.