Amanze ChinonyePlateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has condemned the brutal killing of 27 farmers in Bindi-Jebbu community, Tahoss District of Riyom Local Government Area, describing it as another tragic reminder of persistent security failures in the state.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, was allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen who invaded the farming community between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., killing dozens, razing homes, and injuring scores. The victims, mostly local farmers, included women and children.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelGovernor Mutfwang, who visited the scene of the massacre on Wednesday, 16 July, said intelligence on the planned attack had been shared with security agencies beforehand, but was not acted upon. “It is very sad that we got intelligence for this attack, yet the attack still happened,” Mutfwang said. “I’m calling on the security agencies to redouble their efforts; we need to reappraise our strategy and tactics.”
He questioned the effectiveness of the current military deployment in the area and demanded that both federal and state security apparatus take concrete steps to end what he described as a cycle of mass killings. “Anybody that is threatening the lives of Nigerians is an enemy of the state and must be dealt with accordingly,” the governor added.
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The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), a socio-cultural group in the area, accused some security operatives of turning a blind eye during the attack.
In a statement, the group alleged that military personnel stationed in the community were informed as the attack unfolded but allegedly failed to respond. “There’s no way attackers could carry out this level of destruction uninterrupted unless they had backing or were deliberately ignored,” said Gyang Davou, a BYM spokesperson.
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Survivors recounted harrowing experiences as they fled through the bush under gunfire. Many of the injured are being treated at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
Governor Mutfwang announced that the state government would organize a mass burial for the victims and provide relief support for displaced families.
He also pledged that homes destroyed in the attack would be rebuilt under an emergency reconstruction plan. Traditional leaders and religious heads, including officials from the COCIN Regional Church Council, called for lasting peace and warned that continuous attacks without accountability were deepening ethnic and religious divides.
Riyom and surrounding communities in Plateau State have endured recurrent clashes between armed herders and indigenous farming populations. Despite the presence of security checkpoints and task forces, violence has persisted, often with minimal arrests or prosecutions.
Between January and June 2025 alone, Plateau State has recorded over 150 violent deaths in rural attacks, according to monitoring by the Nigeria Security Tracker.
Governor Mutfwang’s visit signals a growing frustration among state officials over perceived federal inaction and rising insecurity in the Middle Belt. He has called on President Tinubu’s administration to urgently review national security architecture and give governors more operational control over local deployments. As the state prepares for a joint security review, residents of Riyom and nearby districts remain on edge, demanding justice, accountability, and above all, protection.
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