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Seven farmers killed in Plateau attack as reprisal cycle deepens
Seven farmers killed in Plateau attack as reprisal cycle deepens
By; Zagazola Makama
The killing of at least seven farmers in Bum community, Chugwi area of Vwang District, Jos South Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, late Wednesday, has been widely interpreted as the latest link in a rapidly escalating chain of reprisal violence that has gripped several parts of the state since early December 2025.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attackers, Fulani Bandits struck at about 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, when most villagers were already asleep, killing the farmers in their homes and nearby farmlands before fleeing.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association (BYM), Mr Rwang Tengwong, said seven bodies had so far been recovered, while search and rescue operations were ongoing in surrounding bushes.
Tengwong said the attack occurred despite earlier security alerts warning that several communities in Jos South LGA were under imminent threat.
“According to local sources, the tragic incident occurred despite an earlier security alert indicating that some communities in Jos South LGA had been earmarked for possible attacks,” he said.
“Sadly, Bum community has now fallen victim to this renewed wave of violence. This attack adds to the growing list of assaults on innocent rural communities in Plateau State.”
However, the attack was linked to the Bum killings, a reprisal cycle triggered by a series of violent incidents involving pastoral and farming communities across Barkin Ladi, Jos East, Riyom and Jos South LGAs throughout December 2025.
The immediate backdrop to the Bum attack was the shooting of five Fulani youths on Dec. 27, 2025, near Con Filling Station along Bukuru Express Road, close to Angle D in Jos South LGA.
The victims, Abubakar Aji, Idi Saleh, Sulaiman, Nura Muhammad Detta and Dabo Abubakar were returning from Bukuru Cattle Market (Kara Market) when gunmen suspected to be Berom militias allegedly opened fire on their vehicle without provocation.
They sustained critical injuries and were rushed to Jos University Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The Plateau State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, condemned the shooting, describing it as part of a recurring pattern of attacks on Fulani travellers and pastoral communities.
He called for urgent investigation and improved security along major roads and commercial routes in the state.
Security sources note that the Dec. 27 shooting itself followed a more deadly incident on the night of Dec. 16, 2025, when gunmen reportedly attacked an illegal mining site at Tosho community in Fann District, Barkin Ladi LGA.
During that attack, 12 miners were killed and three abducted after the assailants allegedly demanded information on the whereabouts of 171 cattle stolen from Nding community on Dec. 10, 2025.
The December violence had begun earlier with attacks on pastoral assets. On Dec. 12, 2025, herders in Nding community, Fan District of Barkin Ladi LGA, lost about 137 cattle to rustlers. The animals reportedly belonged to Alhaji Wada Sale, Abdullahi Yusuf and Alhaji Talba Abubakar.
Less than 24 hours later, another rustling incident was reported in Kukukah community of Jos East LGA, where 34 cattle were driven away, though three later returned.
Soon after, nine cows reportedly died after allegedly consuming poisonous substances around Kwi village in Riyom LGA, further heightening tensions.
The situation deteriorated sharply two days later when four children were killed in Dorong village, Foron District of Barkin Ladi LGA, in what residents described as a Fulani reprisal attack. The victims were identified as Precious Joshuah, 17; Isa’ac Joshuah, 9; Mary Joshuah, 7; and Eve Sambo, 3.
Following that incident, retaliatory attacks reportedly continued, including an assault on Gero village in Jos South LGA, where several cattle were killed or fatally wounded.
Zagazola Makama noted that the killing of the seven farmers in Bum community fits a familiar pattern; attacks on cattle or pastoral communities, followed by retaliatory violence against farming settlements, and counter-reprisals along ethnic and communal lines.
Zagazola has repeatedly warned that unresolved cattle rustling, livestock poisoning and targeted killings often serve as triggers for revenge attacks on innocent civilians, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of violence.
Despite repeated early warnings and alerts, affected communities continue to accuse authorities of slow response, selective enforcement and failure to decisively dismantle armed militias on all sides.
As of press time, official reactions from security agencies on the Bum attack had yet to be issued.
Meanwhile, residents fear that without urgent, impartial intervention, the latest killings could provoke further reprisals, deepening insecurity across Plateau State at a time when many communities are still mourning losses from earlier December attacks.
Seven farmers killed in Plateau attack as reprisal cycle deepens
Troops Kill Two Terrorists, Rescue 62 Abducted Persons in North-West Operations
By: Michael Mike
Troops of the Joint Task Force North West under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have recorded significant operational gains with the killing of two suspected terrorists in Kebbi State and the rescue of 62 abducted persons in Zamfara State.
The coordinated operations, carried out by troops operating under Sector 2, were based on credible intelligence and involved close collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups.
In Kebbi State, the troops ambushed suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group around Kerani village, near the boundary between Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State and Binji Local Government Area of Sokoto State. During the operation, two of the suspects were neutralised, while two motorcycles believed to have been used for criminal operations were recovered. The suspects were reportedly dressed in camouflage outfits, and the motorcycles were modified for long-distance movement.
In a separate operation in Zamfara State, the troops raided Munhaye Forest, a known criminal hideout, following intelligence that several kidnapped victims were being held in the area. The operation led to the successful rescue of 62 abducted persons, who have since been moved to a secure location.
Military authorities said arrangements are ongoing to reunite the rescued victims with their families, while efforts continue to track and dismantle remaining criminal elements operating in the forests and border communities.
The military noted that the latest successes reflect the sustained commitment of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to restoring peace and improving security across the North-West region.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division Nigerian Army, Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
Troops Kill Two Terrorists, Rescue 62 Abducted Persons in North-West Operations
NHRC Condemns Killing of Woman, Six Children in Kano
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the brutal killing of Mrs. Fatima Abubakar and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters, Kano State, describing the incident as a gross violation of the right to life and an attack on human dignity.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Saturday, January 17, 2026, reportedly involved unknown attackers who broke into the family’s residence, killed the victims with dangerous weapons, and allegedly threw an infant into a well.
Reacting to the incident, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, said the act was not only criminal but also a serious breach of constitutional and international human rights obligations binding on Nigeria. He noted that the right to life is sacrosanct and must be protected at all times, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and children.
Dr. Ojukwu expressed deep concern over the level of violence displayed in the attack, stressing that such acts threaten public safety and undermine the rule of law. He called on the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to carry out a comprehensive and transparent investigation to ensure that those responsible are identified and prosecuted.
The NHRC extended its condolences to the victims’ family, the Dorayi Chiranchi community, and the people of Kano State, assuring them of the Commission’s solidarity during the period of mourning.
The Commission also reaffirmed its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights across the country, stating its readiness to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability and justice in the case.
Dr. Ojukwu further urged collective action by government institutions, security agencies, community leaders, and civil society groups to uphold the sanctity of human life and prevent a recurrence of such tragic incidents.
He emphasized that justice for the victims is essential to restoring public confidence and fostering a society built on peace, justice, and respect for human dignity.
NHRC Condemns Killing of Woman, Six Children in Kano
SOJA Condemns Killing of Woman, Six Children in Kano, Calls for Justice
By: Michael Mike
A human rights advocacy group, Speak Out for Justice Advocacy Ltd/Gte (SOJA), has condemned the gruesome killing of Mrs. Fatima Abubakar and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi area of Kano State, describing the incident as a grave violation of fundamental human rights and a failure of state protection.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its legal officer, Hameed Ajibola Jimoh., the organisation said the killing of a mother and her children had shocked the nation and undermined the values of humanity, justice and the rule of law.
SOJA noted that the incident amounted to a serious breach of the right to life as guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as provisions of international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory. The group stressed that the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights impose clear obligations on the Nigerian State to protect life and ensure accountability for violations.
The organisation further described the killing of six children as a gross violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandates governments to take all necessary measures to protect children from violence and unlawful death.
SOJA expressed concern that recurring cases of extreme violence, particularly against women and children, point to systemic weaknesses such as poor early-warning mechanisms, inadequate community-level protection, and insufficient intelligence gathering. According to the group, the responsibility of the state goes beyond prosecuting offenders to preventing foreseeable harm.
The advocacy group called on the Kano State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to conduct a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident and ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice without delay.
It also urged authorities to provide psychosocial support, protection and relief assistance to surviving family members and the affected community, noting that justice must include healing and institutional reforms, not just arrests.
SOJA further recommended stronger community-based protection and early-warning systems, improved coordination between security agencies and local communities, sustained public education on violence prevention and child protection, and strict enforcement of existing laws protecting women and children.
The group stressed that the victims must not be reduced to mere statistics, adding that their deaths should serve as a catalyst for accountability and renewed commitment to the sanctity of human life.
SOJA said it stands in solidarity with the victims’ family and the people of Kano State, reaffirming its commitment to speaking out until justice is served.
SOJA Condemns Killing of Woman, Six Children in Kano, Calls for Justice
Troops Kill Two Terrorists, Rescue 62 Abducted Persons in North-West Operations
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NHRC Condemns Killing of Woman, Six Children in Kano
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