US missionary decries Plateau killings, says pastor’s family was ‘hunted and slaughtered’

An American missionary has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau State, describing the latest attack in the state’s Bokkos Local Government Area as a brutal massacre that claimed the lives of nine members of a pastor’s extended family.

Alex Barbir, an Atlanta-based missionary and founder of the humanitarian organisation Building Zion, made the remarks while reacting to the attack on Kum village, where gunmen reportedly stormed the community in the dead of night and killed several residents, including women and children.

According to Barbir, the victims were relatives of a local pastor and were “hunted and slaughtered” by heavily armed attackers, adding that the incident reflects the worsening security crisis confronting many rural communities across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

He alleged that the assailants initially moved around the area during the day disguised as herders before returning after midnight to launch a coordinated assault on unsuspecting residents. After reportedly failing to force their way into one residence, the attackers allegedly moved to another family compound where they carried out the killings.

Community leaders identified the victims as Celina James, James Yohanna, Janet Yohanna, three-month-old Jennifer Yohanna, Sele James, Melody James, Reto James, Endurance James and three-year-old Peace James. The victims included a young couple, children and other close family members.

The latest attack adds to a series of deadly incidents that have continued to plague Plateau State despite repeated assurances from security agencies. Local organisations monitoring the violence estimate that more than 120 people have been killed in separate attacks across several communities in Plateau over the past two months, raising fresh concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria’s North-Central region.

Speaking after visiting affected communities, Barbir expressed frustration over what he described as the inadequate response to the recurring attacks. He argued that the killings have gone beyond isolated incidents of banditry or communal clashes and should be treated as a sustained humanitarian and security emergency.

“Innocent people are being hunted in their homes, killed without mercy and buried without justice,” Barbir said, urging both Nigerian authorities and the international community to pay greater attention to the crisis.

The missionary also called for stronger protection for vulnerable rural communities, insisting that residents should not be left defenceless while waiting for security personnel to respond to attacks. While advocating lawful measures to protect communities, he stressed that any response must remain within the framework of the law.

The attack has renewed calls from religious leaders, civil society groups and humanitarian organisations for more decisive action to end the recurring violence in Plateau State, where hundreds of people have been displaced by repeated attacks in recent years.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has repeatedly condemned the killings, describing them as senseless and unacceptable. He has directed security agencies to intensify efforts to identify and arrest those responsible, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to restoring peace in affected communities.

Despite these assurances, many residents say they continue to live in fear as attacks persist, with survivors and grieving families calling for justice and improved security to prevent further bloodshed. The latest massacre has once again highlighted the urgent need for coordinated security operations and lasting solutions to the violence that has continued to claim lives across Plateau State.