At least 20 people were killed on Monday night when gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias launched a deadly assault on Bindi community in the Ta-Hoss district of Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State. Several others sustained injuries as terrified residents fled into the night for safety.
According to a statement jointly signed by Gideon Manjal and Gadu Daniel Dong — Chairman and Publicity Secretary of the Riyom chapter of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) — the attackers stormed the village while residents had retired for the night, carrying out a house-to-house massacre. Victims included women, children, and the elderly, many of whom were unable to escape.
“The attackers, who were properly identified as Fulani extremists by survivors, stormed the Bindi community… and systematically slaughtered over 20 innocent people including women, children, and old people,” the statement said.
COPDEM expressed outrage that the attack was carried out despite the presence of security forces and military hardware in the area. They further alleged that the perpetrators are well-known to authorities, yet continue to act with impunity.
“It must be clearly stated that these attackers are not unknown. Their hideouts… have been repeatedly identified and reported by community leaders and local authorities,” the group said. “Yet, year after year, these known threats continue to strike with impunity, often unchallenged.”
The group criticized what it described as years of “inaction, negligence, and systemic compromise,” calling for an immediate and decisive response from President Bola Tinubu, the Plateau State government, and security agencies.
They demanded a high-level military intervention to dismantle the terrorists’ hideouts, a declaration of a state of emergency in the affected areas, and urgent deployment of humanitarian aid, trauma support, and rebuilding efforts for devastated communities.
“Our people are being buried daily. We are tired of condolence visits and silence. We are tired of press statements that do not translate to protection,” the statement read.
The Coalition concluded by stressing that communities like Ta-Hoss, Jol, Rim, Bachi, Wereng, and Nding deserve more than sympathy. “They deserve security, dignity, and justice.”
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