Update: Pastor, wife, two children killed as armed attackers strike in Plateau

Fresh violence has engulfed Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State after armed assailants invaded Gako Village late Sunday night, killing a pastor, his wife, and their two children in a brutal coordinated attack that has further heightened insecurity concerns in the region.

The victims were identified as Reverend Ayuba Choji, his wife Chundung, and their children Cyril and Endurance. The family was reportedly shot dead around 11 p.m. when the attackers stormed the community and opened fire indiscriminately.

Residents described the attack as a night of horror, saying sustained gunfire forced villagers to flee into nearby bushes for safety as chaos spread through the community.

A resident, Martha Dalyop, who spoke via telephone, said the community has been left traumatised and increasingly vulnerable.

“They came late in the night and started shooting everywhere. People ran into the bush for safety. We are no longer safe in our own homes,” she said.

She added that repeated attacks in the area have disrupted normal life, forcing many residents to abandon their homes at night and making access to farmlands increasingly dangerous.

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Confirming the incident, the Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association, Rwang Tengwong, said the attackers appeared to operate in a coordinated manner, targeting both civilians and livelihoods during the raid.

According to him, the assailants often split into groups during such attacks—some focusing on killing residents, others destroying farms, while another set blocks access roads to hinder possible rescue or intervention.

“The way these attacks are carried out shows clear coordination. While some attack residents, others are busy destroying farms and blocking roads to prevent any form of rescue,” he stated.

Tengwong further revealed that within the last 48 hours, farmlands in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, particularly in Kassa, had been destroyed, with crops such as maize, pepper, and cabbage wiped out. He warned that the destruction is worsening food insecurity and economic hardship among farming communities.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to the spokesperson were not returned at the time of filing this report.

The latest killings have deepened fear and tension across Riyom and surrounding communities, with residents calling on security agencies and government authorities to take urgent steps to halt the recurring cycle of violence in the area.