Suspected gunmen have killed Rev. Nichodemus Kim of the Church of Christ in Nation (COCIN) and 20 others in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau.
The pastor was killed in the Gana-Ropp community of Barkin Ladi, while others were killed in Rim, Jol, and Kwi communities of Riyom.
The National Publicity Secretary, Berom Youth Movement (BYM), Mr. Rwang Tengwong, a socio-cultural group, made the disclosure in a statement, yesterday, in Jos. Tengwong said the communities were attacked simultaneously, adding that the attacks were highly coordinated.
He explained that the attacks, which occurred on Sunday night, left many people with various degrees of injuries, adding that scores were currently displaced.
“Twenty-one people 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 people 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 2pm and 7pm, on Sunday. In Kwi, an entire community, Hei-gwe was razed and over 100 farmlands destroyed,” he said.
Tengwong called on the government and the security agencies to fashion out lasting solutions to the spate of attacks and killings in communities.
“The BYM, under the leadership of Solomon Mwantiri, hereby, condemns the coordinated attacks and other forms of provocation meted out on innocent people of Plateau since after the 2023 general elections.
“We call on the new administration, both at 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 life and property.
BYM equally calls on the Berom nation to remain calm and law abiding, but 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 (PPRO) of the command, DSP Alabo Alfred, could not be reached 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 (DOPPA), Mr Gyang Bere.
The governor further confirmed the kidnapping of a traditional ruler in Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area of the state. He promised residents of the state of his commitment towards tackling the spate of attacks, killings, kidnapping 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 away their differences and unite towards moving the state forward.