Armed assailants fatally shoot clergyman, spouse, and kids in latest Plateau violence

A brutal attack was carried out by gunmen on Sunday night in Gako Village, located in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, resulting in the deaths of a pastor and three members of his family, marking a new surge of violence in the area.

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The victims of the attack were identified as Rev. Ayuba Choji, his wife, Chundung Ayuba, and their two children, Cyril Ayuba and Endurance Ayuba, who lost their lives in the senseless act of violence.

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According to sources within the community, the assailants launched their attack on the village at approximately 11 p.m., firing their weapons indiscriminately and causing widespread panic.

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A resident of the community, Martha Dalyop, recounted the events of the attack to Vanguard, describing how the gunmen invaded the area under the cover of darkness, firing shots sporadically and forcing residents to flee for their safety.

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Dalyop expressed her lamentation over the ongoing attacks, which have left communities in a state of constant fear, with many residents unable to sleep in their homes or tend to their farms due to the pervasive sense of insecurity.

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Rwang Tengwong, the publicity secretary of the Berom Youths Moulder Association, confirmed the incident and noted that the latest attack indicates a shift in the assailants' strategy, with a focus on targeting relaxation spots, farming communities, and local vigilantes protecting rural areas.

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According to Tengwong, the attackers often employ a tactic of dividing themselves into groups during operations, with some groups launching attacks on residents, while others destroy farmlands, and another group mounts surveillance or blocks roads to prevent escape or intervention.

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Tengwong further revealed that a significant portion of farmland had been destroyed by gunmen in the past 48 hours in Kassa, located in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, with cabbage, hot pepper, and maize farms being particularly affected, thereby exacerbating the plight of farmers in the affected communities.

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The latest incident has heightened tension across Riyom and neighbouring Barkin Ladi communities, with residents urgently calling on security agencies and government authorities to intensify their efforts to halt the killings and destruction of livelihoods in Plateau State, Tengwong added.