Gunmen Kill Over 20 in Plateau Community Attack, Survivors Blame Fulani Militias

At least 20 people were killed on Monday night in Bindi, a community in the Ta-Hoss district of Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State, following an attack by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias. An undisclosed number of residents were injured, and many fled their homes to escape the violence.

According to a statement released by the Riyom chapter of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), the attackers launched a house-to-house assault while residents were asleep, killing women, children, and elderly people unable to flee. The statement was signed by COPDEM Chairman Gideon Manjal and Publicity Secretary Gadu Daniel Dong.

Survivors described the assailants as heavily armed Fulani extremists, whose intent appeared to be to displace the community and seize their land. The group also claimed the attack followed a familiar pattern seen in previous incidents across Riyom and other parts of Plateau State.

“This occurred despite the presence of security forces in the area, including armored military vehicles,” COPDEM stated. “Homes were burned, families displaced, and the trauma deepened.”

The group further criticized what they described as the ongoing failure of authorities to act on intelligence about the attackers’ hideouts, which have allegedly been identified and reported multiple times. They called for urgent government intervention, including military operations to dismantle terrorist camps, a state of emergency in affected areas, and immediate humanitarian aid and trauma support.

COPDEM also condemned the government’s repeated condolence messages and lack of effective response, demanding real action to end the violence.

“Our people are being buried daily,” the statement read. “We are tired of condolence visits and empty rhetoric. Communities like Ta-Hoss, Jol, Rim, Bachi, Wereng, and Nding deserve security, dignity, and justice.”