Insecurity: Gunmen Kill Pastor, Wife, Children in Fresh Plateau Attack

Gunmen on Sunday night attacked Gako Village in Riyom Local Government Area, killing a pastor and three members of his family in what residents described as a renewed wave of violence in the area.

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The victims were identified as Rev. Ayuba Choji, his wife, Chundung Ayuba, and their two children, Cyril and Endurance.

Community sources said the attackers stormed the village around 11 p.m., opening fire indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee for safety.

A resident, Martha Dalyop, told Vanguard that the late-night assault caused panic across the community, with many people running into hiding. She lamented that repeated attacks have left residents living in fear, unable to sleep peacefully or tend to their farms.

Confirming the incident, the publicity secretary of the Berom Youths Moulder Association, Rwang Tengwong, said the pattern of attacks has shifted, with assailants now targeting relaxation centres, farming communities, and local vigilantes.

He explained that the attackers often operate in coordinated groups—some attacking residents, others destroying farmlands, while another group blocks roads or monitors movement to prevent escape or intervention.

Tengwong also revealed that within the past 48 hours, large areas of farmland in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, including cabbage, pepper, and maize farms, had been destroyed, worsening the hardship faced by farmers.

The latest attack has heightened tension across Riyom and neighbouring Barkin Ladi communities, with residents calling on security agencies and government authorities to step up efforts to end the killings and protect livelihoods in Plateau State.