A pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Rev. Nichodemus Kim and 20 others have been killed by gunmen in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the pastor was killed in the Gana-Ropp community of Barkin Ladi LGA, while others were killed in the Rim, Jol, and Kwi communities of Riyom LGA.
NAN said, Rwang Tengwong, National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement (BYM), confirmed the killings in a statement on Tuesday in Jos.
Tengwong said the communities were attacked simultaneously, adding that the attacks were highly coordinated.
He said, “The attacks occurred on Sunday night, leaving many people with various degrees of injuries. Scores of people have been 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 clergyman, Rev. Nichodemus Kim, was killed in Gana-Ropp Barkin Ladi
“The attacks on Rim, Jol and Kwi were simultaneously coordinated and held between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday.”
He said further that “In Kwi, an entire community, Hei-gwe, was razed and over 100 farmlands destroyed”.
Tengwong urged the government and security agencies to develop permanent solutions to the frequent attacks and killings in communities.
He also condemned the coordinated attacks and other forms of provocation inflicted on innocent people of Plateau after the 2023 general elections.
He said, “BYM, under the leadership of Solomon Mwantiri, expressed its condemnation of the attacks.
“We call on the new administration, both at the 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 lives and property.
“BYM equally calls on the Berom nation to remain calm and law abiding, but they must explore every avenue to defend their communities, as we cannot sit and watch while they kill us one after another”.
The Plateau state governor
Caleb Mutfwang, confirmed the killings in a statement by his spokesman, Gyang Bere.
The governor also confirmed the kidnapping of a traditional ruler in Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area of the state. Mutfwang assured the residents of the state of his commitment to addressing the spate of attacks, killings, kidnappings 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,” the statement said.
Credit: Agency report
