Suspected gunmen have killed Rev. Nicodemus Kim of the Church of Christ in Nation and 20 others in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement, a socio-cultural group, Mr Rwang Tengwong, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday in Jos that the pastor was killed in the Gana-Ropp community of Barkin Ladi, while others were slain in the Rim, Jol, and Kwi communities of Riyom.
According to Tengwong, the communities were attacked simultaneously in coordinated attacks.
He said, “Twenty-one persons were killed and several others injured on Sunday during coordinated attacks by militias on residents of the Rim, Jol, and Kwi communities of Riyom as well as the Gana-Ropp community in Barkin Ladi.
“Two persons were killed at Rim, seven at Jol, and 11 at Kwi, all in Riyom, while a cleric, Rev. Nicodemus Kim, was killed in Gana-Ropp, Barkin Ladi.
“The attacks on Rim, Jol, and Kwi were simultaneously coordinated and held between 2pm and 7pm on Sunday.
“In Kwi, an entire community, Hei-gwe, was razed and over 100 farmlands destroyed,” he said.
Tengwong called on the government and the security agencies to fashion lasting solutions to the spate of attacks and killings in communities.
“The BYM, under the leadership of Solomon Mwantiri, hereby condemns the coordinated attacks and other forms of provocation meted out on innocent persons on the Plateau since the 2023 general elections.
“We call on the new administration, both at the federal and state levels, to come up with new strategies to address the security situation in the country and particularly in the Plateau.
“Security personnel must also wake up to their statutory responsibilities to safeguard lives and property.”
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, DSP Alabo Alfred, could not be reached for comments.
However, the state governor, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, confirmed the killings in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr Gyang Bere.
The governor further confirmed the kidnapping of a traditional ruler in Mushere in Bokkos LGA.
“Let me assure the people that we are retooling the security apparatus of the state, and by the special grace of God, we will have a secured Plateau,” he said.
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