Fresh violence has erupted in Riyom Local Government Area as armed bandits carried out coordinated attacks on Jol community and Dorowa Babuje in the Rob District, killing at least 10 residents, local leaders have confirmed.
The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYMA), Barrister Solomon Dalyop, disclosed the casualty figures during a phone interview saying nine people were killed in Dorowa Babuje, while one person lost his life in Jol in near-simultaneous assaults.
According to Dalyop, the attackers who struck Jol arrived on motorcycles from the Manga axis, despite prior intelligence warnings allegedly forwarded to security agencies about suspicious movements in the area.
“They came in large numbers on motorcycles from the Manga direction. We had raised early alerts, but unfortunately, the attack still happened,” Dalyop said.
He explained that operatives of Operation Rainbow, the Plateau State-owned security outfit, were already deployed in the area and were able to repel the attackers, a response he said helped to limit casualties in Jol.
In Dorowa Babuje, Dalyop said the assailants emerged from the Jong-Wereh axis, where they were believed to have camped for some time before launching the attack. He added that the military was immediately alerted and responded swiftly.
“If not for the quick intervention of the military in Dorowa, the casualty figure would have been much higher. We must commend them for their swift response,” he stated.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the police were unsuccessful, as the Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls as of press time. The Nigeria Police Force has yet to issue an official statement on the attacks.
The latest killings deepen concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Plateau State, particularly in Riyom, long regarded as one of the state’s most volatile flashpoints. Farming communities in the area have suffered repeated night raids, ambushes and mass displacement in recent months.
Residents of Jol and Dorowa Babuje remain gripped by fear as families mourn their dead and renew calls for sustained security deployment to prevent further bloodshed.
Meanwhile, youth groups and community leaders have urged both the federal and Plateau State governments to move beyond reactive measures and implement long-term security and peacebuilding strategies for Riyom and neighbouring communities.
