Pastor Recounts Deadly Attack on Travellers in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State

A pastor serving in the Faan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, has shared a chilling account of an armed attack that occurred along the Barkin Ladi–Dorowa road, where several passengers were reportedly killed by gunmen.

In a video circulating on social media, the clergyman who identified himself as a resident pastor in the area described how armed men intercepted passenger vehicles, isolating and attacking certain travellers in what he called a renewed wave of violence against local communities.

The pastor said the incident occurred amid a series of recent assaults on nearby villages, which have left at least 10 people dead and several farmlands destroyed in the past week. He stated that his community has been living in constant fear, following unprovoked attacks by unidentified armed groups operating in the region.

“We have been praying for peace in this community,” he said. “But recently, the attacks started again. They have destroyed farmlands and killed innocent people returning home from church and other daily activities.”

He explained that one of his church members, identified as Godfrey David, was shot dead while returning home from a church meeting. Another youth, he said, was ambushed and killed the following day near his home.
According to the pastor, the assailants later blocked the Barkin Ladi–Dorowa road on Thursday, stopping vehicles and killing some passengers before fleeing the scene.

The clergyman appealed passionately to both state and federal authorities to intervene, saying local residents feel abandoned and helpless as the attacks continue unabated.

“People here cannot sleep anymore. We have no one to protect us. We want the government to wade into this matter before it escalates further,” he said.

Community leaders in the area have also condemned the recurring violence, urging security agencies to increase patrols and ensure the safety of travellers and farmers who have fled their homes out of fear.

While no official casualty figures have been confirmed, local sources told reporters that more than 10 people may have been killed in the recent wave of attacks, including those along the Dorowa Babuje road.