Fulani bandits kill 8, injure one in fresh Plateau attack as cycle of violence deepens

By Zagazola Makama

Suspected Fulani bandits have killed eight persons and injured one other in a fresh attack on Kum community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, in another escalation of the persistent violence ravaging communities across the state.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday when armed assailants invaded Kum community, opening fire on residents.

Troops of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), who responded immediately after receiving a distress report, arrived at the scene to find eight villagers already killed, while one survivor had sustained gunshot wounds.

The casualty was evacuated to the General Hospital, Riyom, for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were also evacuated.

The troops thereafter launched offensive operations across the surrounding communities and nearby forests to track down and neutralise the attackers.

Military sources said the operation was still ongoing, with additional troops deployed to prevent further attacks and reassure residents.

The latest killings add to a growing list of deadly incidents that have continued to fuel tension between farming and herding communities across Plateau State in recent weeks.

Only days earlier, a farmer was killed by Fulani Bandits in Butura Gida village, Bokkos Local Government Area.

The attack, which occurred at about 7:47 p.m. on July 8, prompted troops of Sector 5, Operation Enduring Peace, to rush to the village after receiving a distress call.

However, by the time security personnel arrived, the attackers had fled, leaving the victim dead.

Security agencies subsequently launched a manhunt to identify and arrest those responsible.

Less than 24 hours before that incident, the body of a 13-year-old herder, Mustapha Abdul Kadir, was discovered in Mangu Local Government Area alongside four dead cattle.

Security authorities suspected that the teenager had been attacked by armed militia while grazing livestock.

The killing heightened fears of reprisals in communities already experiencing heightened ethnic and communal tensions.

Earlier on the same day, two residents were reportedly killed in Torok community of Riyom Local Government Area after suspected Fulani bandits attacked the settlement.

Security agencies responded to the incident and increased patrols in the area to forestall further violence.

The latest attacks follow weeks of sustained bloodshed across Plateau State, particularly in Bokkos, Mangu, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bassa Local Government Areas.

During the past several weeks, numerous communities both Berom and Fulani have experienced coordinated attacks resulting in scores of deaths, destruction of homes, displacement of residents and loss of livestock.

Security records indicate that villages in Bokkos and Mangu have repeatedly witnessed deadly assaults on farming settlements, with gunmen attacking at night, burning houses and forcing residents to flee.

Similarly, several herding communities have also reported killings of herders, rustling of cattle and destruction of grazing assets, leading to retaliatory attacks that have further deepened hostilities.

In Riyom Local Government Area, several communities, including Torok and now Kum, have suffered repeated attacks in recent days despite the deployment of security forces.

Authorities have continued to reinforce military presence in the affected areas, conduct fighting patrols, establish observation posts and intensify intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling armed groups operating in the region.

Despite these measures, criminal elements have continued to exploit longstanding disputes over land ownership, grazing routes and communal mistrust to perpetrate violence.

Zagazola believe that while the crisis is often viewed through the lens of farmer-herder conflict, criminal gangs have increasingly infiltrated both sides, carrying out killings, cattle rustling, kidnappings and other violent crimes that further complicate the security situation.

The recurring pattern has become increasingly predictable, with attacks on herders  communities often followed by reprisals against farmers or residents.  killings of herders frequently trigger retaliatory assaults on villages, creating an endless cycle of revenge.

Residents and community leaders have repeatedly appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to arrest and prosecute perpetrators irrespective of ethnic or communal affiliations.

Zagazola warned that unless those responsible for attacks on both farming and herding communities are brought to justice, while genuine reconciliation and conflict-resolution mechanisms are strengthened, Plateau State may continue to experience recurring waves of violence that threaten peace, food security and socio-economic stability.