Gunmen once again plunged Plateau State into mourning on Monday, as they launched fresh attacks on Marit and Gashish communities in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA). The assailants reportedly opened fire without warning, killing at least six residents and inflicting serious injuries on several others.
By Tuesday morning, Stephen Pwajok Gyang, Chairman of Barkin Ladi LGA, confirmed the incident through a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Mercy Yop Chuwang. He described the attack as a “heinous crime” and condemned it in the strongest terms, calling it a “disturbing setback” to the council’s efforts to promote peace and unity in the area.
Council Chairman Visits Survivors, Laments Resurgence of Violence
Following the attack, Gyang personally visited injured survivors at Barkin Ladi General Hospital, where he extended words of comfort and pledged the council’s support for their recovery. He also expressed frustration that despite intense peacebuilding efforts, acts of violence continue to disrupt the lives of law-abiding citizens.
“I deeply regret this tragedy, especially at a time when we are working round the clock to stabilize our communities,” Gyang said, urging both vigilante groups and formal security agencies to step up surveillance and improve response times.
He added, “We must end this cycle of bloodshed. We can’t allow violence to define our future.”
Security Agencies and Communities Urged to Collaborate
In his appeal, Gyang emphasized the need for joint action. He called on security forces, traditional rulers, youth leaders, and civil society actors to work collectively to restore lasting peace in Barkin Ladi and neighboring localities.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity, and resist any temptation to retaliate, which could escalate the violence further.
“Security cannot rest on government alone,” he stressed. “It requires the involvement of everyone—community leaders, religious figures, and ordinary citizens.”
He concluded his statement by praying for comfort for the bereaved families and encouraging medical staff to treat the wounded with urgency and compassion.
Not an Isolated Incident: Plateau’s Deadly Pattern of Violence
The Barkin Ladi killings are the latest in a long, bloody history of attacks that have plagued Plateau State for years, despite repeated peace accords, government interventions, and security deployments.
In late March and early April 2025, assailants launched a wave of deadly attacks in Bokkos and Bassa LGAs, where over 100 people were murdered in a matter of days. The victims included children, women, and the elderly, many of whom were killed in their sleep as entire villages were razed.
Those attacks reportedly targeted over 20 communities, and the attackers operated unchallenged for hours before security agencies arrived. The aftermath revealed scenes of mass graves, displaced residents, and humanitarian crises.
Shortly after, similar violent episodes unfolded in Riyom and Mangu, where scores of civilians were gunned down in their homes and on farmlands. Some villages remain deserted today, with residents too terrified to return.
Earlier, during the Christmas Eve attacks of December 24, 2023, armed groups stormed over 20 villages in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi, killing at least 150 people in a coordinated assault. Survivors recalled harrowing scenes of mass slaughter, looted homes, and entire communities burned to the ground.
In October 2023, gunmen killed 16 people in Mangu LGA, including several schoolchildren. The attackers reportedly blocked roads and targeted passengers, further instilling fear in travelers and locals.
Going further back, in 2018, coordinated assaults on Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Jos South LGAs left over 200 people dead in one of Plateau’s darkest days in recent memory. The massacre prompted nationwide outrage, yet peace remained elusive.
Government Efforts and Challenges
Despite numerous military deployments, curfews, and peacebuilding forums, Plateau State continues to suffer from episodic waves of ethno-religious and land-related violence. Analysts often cite the struggle over land ownership, cattle grazing rights, and communal distrust as key triggers of conflict.
State and federal governments have launched multiple initiatives, including Operation Safe Haven, to curtail the violence. However, many communities argue that responses remain slow and inadequate, with attackers frequently escaping without arrests.
In addition, displaced persons from earlier attacks have struggled to rebuild their lives. Many still live in makeshift camps, with little access to food, medical care, or schooling for their children.
What Happens Next?
As communities like Marit and Gashish mourn yet again, civil society groups, religious organizations, and international observers continue to urge the Nigerian government to invest in long-term security strategies, community dialogue, and justice mechanisms to address the root causes of conflict.
Residents of Plateau State, weary of constant funerals, now wait to see whether these calls will translate into meaningful action.
Until then, the cycle of death and displacement threatens to continue—unless urgent, united, and decisive efforts are made to bring peace to a land that has suffered too much for too long.
