Three vigilantes gunned own guarding Plateau community

By Anuoluwa Amao

Three community guards lost their lives in the early hours of Wednesday after unidentified gunmen launched a deadly assault on a vigilante post in Gwa Rim, a community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Residents say the attackers struck around 2 a.m., catching much of the community asleep and opening fire on the volunteers stationed to protect it. Local resident Damba Dang, who spoke about the incident, said the timing and manner of the attack left little chance for the guards to defend themselves before three of them were killed.

For Dang, the tragedy carries a bitter irony the men who died were themselves the community’s first line of defense, tasked with shielding residents from precisely this kind of violence. He described a growing sense of unease spreading through the area, pointing to a pattern of repeated attacks that has left many locals fearing for their own safety.

He is now calling on security agencies to move quickly to reinforce protection in Gwa Rim and other exposed communities across Riyom, warning that inaction could invite further bloodshed. Beyond immediate security measures, Dang also pressed for a full investigation into the killings, insisting that those behind the attack be identified and prosecuted.