Suspected gunmen have killed Rev. Nichodemus Kim of the Church of Christ in Nation and 20 others in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau.
The pastor was murdered at Gana-Ropp community of Barkin Ladi, while others were killed in Rim, Jol, and Kwi communities of Riyom.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement, BYM, a socio-cultural group, Mr. Rwang Tengwong, in a statement on Tuesday in Jos 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 persons with various degrees of injuries, adding that scores were currently displaced.
“Twenty-one persons 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 persons were killed at Rim, seven at Jol, 11 at Kwi, all in Riyom, while a clegyman, Rev. Nichodemus Kim was killed in Gana-Ropp Barkin Ladi, Tengwong said.
He added that the attacks were held between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday. In Kwi, an entire community, Hei-gwe, was razed and over 100 farmlands destroyed.
He further 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 persons 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”, he said.
Security personnel must also wake up to their statutory responsibilities to safeguard lives and property, Tengwong said.
BYM equally called on the Berom nation to remain calm and law abiding, and explore every avenue to defend their communities “as we cannot sit and watch while they kill us one after another”.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Alabo Alfred could not be reached for comments on the matter.
The Governor of the state, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Gyang Bere further confirmed the killing as well as the kidnap 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.
