The Plateau State Government has held a mass burial for 27 residents of Bindi community in Tahoss, Riyom Local Government Area, who were brutally murdered during a recent violent attack by unidentified gunmen.
The solemn ceremony, which took place on Friday followed a deadly incident on July 15, when heavily armed assailants stormed the quiet village, killing men, women, and children.
The attackers also razed homes, destroyed farmlands, and looted food items and property estimated to be worth millions of naira.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who earlier visited the grieving community, had promised to give the victims a dignified burial and reiterated his administration’s commitment to ending the frequent killings in Plateau’s rural areas.
The mass burial drew emotional reactions from community members, officials, and traditional leaders who gathered to pay their last respects.
During the event, the Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Mr. Sati Shuwa, expressed profound sorrow and called on the Federal Government and security agencies to take more decisive steps to prevent such tragedies.
“We are gathered here today in unspeakable grief,” Shuwa said. “Our hearts are heavy with sorrow as we mourn the 27 precious lives that were cut down in a cruel and senseless act of violence. As your Chairman, I stand with you—not just in leadership, but in mourning. I cannot imagine the silence in your homes or the pain that now fills them.”
He called for justice and protection for vulnerable communities, adding that rural dwellers should not be left at the mercy of terrorists and criminal elements.
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“To the bereaved families, words may not bring back your loved ones, but your pain is shared by all of us in Riyom and Plateau State. This is a wound in the heart of our people,” Shuwa said.
Despite the grief, Shuwa acknowledged efforts made by President Bola Tinubu and Governor Mutfwang in addressing the security situation in Plateau. However, he stressed the need for more proactive interventions.
The ceremony was attended by top government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, and residents, all united in mourning and demanding action. Many called for tighter border surveillance, intelligence-driven responses, and swift prosecution of those responsible for orchestrating the massacre.
Since the beginning of the year, rural communities across Plateau State have witnessed a series of violent attacks, prompting outrage and repeated calls for increased federal intervention.
The state, which has a long history of ethno-religious and land-based conflicts, remains one of Nigeria’s most volatile regions.
Governor Mutfwang, in a previous statement, said his administration was working closely with security agencies to improve intelligence gathering and deploy more personnel to hotspot areas.
He also emphasized the importance of community-based vigilance and rebuilding trust between residents and law enforcement.
While the burial provided a moment of collective grief and solidarity, it also served as a stark reminder of the insecurity plaguing Plateau and the broader Middle Belt region.
The state government reiterated its resolve to support the affected families, restore peace to troubled communities, and prevent a recurrence of such bloodshed.
