Men narrowly escape Plateau massacre after being declared wanted by Fulani herdsmen

A group of young men, including, Abubakar Yasin, Shakiru Olufemi Olalekan and Stephen Johnson, narrowly escaped death during the recent deadly attack on Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, after being declared wanted by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who have launched multiple waves of coordinated assaults on the community.

The latest invasion occurred on July 27, 2025, at about 2:23 a.m., leaving 55 people dead and 22 others hospitalised, many with life-threatening injuries.

According to survivors, the gunmen stormed the town in large numbers, targeting homes believed to shelter local youth defenders.

Olalekan, Yasin and Johnson, who had previously acted as security men, defended the community during earlier attacks in May and October 2023, reportedly fled into the bush as gunshots rang through the town.

Survivors said the attackers called out the names of specific individuals, threatening to continue the killings until those named were handed over.

“They kept shouting their names. They said peace would only come when we surrender them,” a hospitalised victim told newsmen.

This marks the third major attack on Mangu within 18 months. On December 24, 2023, the community was hit around 1:45 a.m., with 123 people killed and several others injured.

That attack followed failed invasions earlier in May and October 2023, which were repelled by the local youth vigilante network.

Another attack occurred on November 2, 2024, at 9:09 p.m., resulting in 78 deaths. In each instance, the pattern has remained the same: night-time raids, destruction of homes, mass casualties, and targeted threats to community defenders.

The survivors, all of whom are gathered to be on a “wanted list” created by the militant herdsmen.

These persons are said to have played key roles in earlier resistance efforts against the invading groups.

Local sources revealed that many of these men have now gone into hiding after multiple threats to their lives.

Residents have repeatedly called on the state and federal governments to intervene decisively, describing the attacks as acts of terrorism.