Tension has once again gripped Plateau State as gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias launched a deadly night attack on Gako village in the Rim District of Riyom Local Government Area, killing one person and leaving several others injured.
According to local sources, the attackers, numbering several men and heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the quiet agrarian community at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, firing sporadically into the air to instill panic among residents.
The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Barrister Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, confirmed the attack in a statement issued late Saturday night, describing it as yet another painful reminder of the insecurity that continues to plague Plateau communities.
He said the gunmen killed a 65-year-old man, identified as Mr. Bulus Dongo, who died on the spot, while several other villagers sustained gunshot wounds. The victims were said to have been rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment.
“While Nigerians were happily waiting to welcome His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on a condolence visit to Plateau State, suspected bandits under the guise of Fulani militants attacked Gako village of Rim District in Riyom Local Government Area at about 8:30 p.m., resulting in the death of Mr. Bulus Dongo and injuries to others,” Mwantiri said.
The BYM president expressed disappointment that the attack occurred despite early warning alerts sent to security agencies and local communities about the likelihood of renewed violence in the district.
“There was an early warning sent to communities in the district to be on the alert as they were likely to be attacked, and lo and behold, the bandits, whose intent was to mar the atmosphere of euphoria ahead of the President’s visit, struck as feared,” he lamented.
Mwantiri disclosed that according to accounts from residents, the attackers sneaked into the village through surrounding corn farmlands before opening fire on unsuspecting villagers. The slain victim, Mr. Dongo, reportedly left behind his wife and six dependants, adding to the growing list of bereaved families in the area.
The youth leader condemned what he described as a pattern of coordinated assaults targeting Berom farming communities, particularly those resisting open grazing and the destruction of farmlands.
“This kind of tragic incident has always followed any resistance staged against continuous mischievous grazing and willful destruction of farmlands daily meted out on Rim, Tahoss, Jol, Kwi, Wereng, Rahoss, Kogo, and other borderline villages,” he said.
“It appears there is a conspiracy of silence and complacency with the sole aim of encouraging the ongoing banditry and terrorism waged by the Fulani militants in and around Plateau State and beyond.”
Mwantiri reiterated the BYM’s condemnation of what he described as the “perpetual aggression” against Berom communities, urging both federal and state authorities to rise above rhetoric and act decisively to protect vulnerable citizens.
“We condemn in its entirety the aggression perpetually waged by the armed Fulani, who have vowed to bring our people to extinction as well as abject impoverishment,” he said.
The group further called on the Plateau State House of Assembly to immediately begin legislative processes to halt open grazing, warning that continued tolerance of such practices could have dire consequences for food production and security.
“The BYM calls on the Plateau State House of Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, set in motion legislative proceedings halting open grazing; otherwise, food security will increasingly be threatened,” Mwantiri added.
He also urged residents of hamlets, villages, and communities across the state to intensify vigilance and report suspicious movements promptly to security agencies.
The latest attack adds to the growing number of violent incidents recorded in Plateau State in recent months, particularly in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, and Mangu Local Government Areas, where repeated clashes between farmers and herders have led to loss of lives, displacement, and destruction of farmlands.
As of the time of filing this report, security operatives have been deployed to the affected area to prevent further escalation, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.
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