On Monday night, gunmen believed to be Fulani militias stormed the Bindi hamlet in the Ta-Hoss district of the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing at least 20 people.
It was discovered that the assailants carried out a well-planned, nighttime assault, killing locals, including women, children, and the old, who were unable to flee the bloodbath.
As terrified locals escaped into the nearby bushes for safety, an unknown number of villagers were also hurt.
The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) expressed serious dissatisfaction with what they called a systemic failure to protect vulnerable communities in a joint statement released on Tuesday by Gideon Manjal and Gadu Daniel Dong, Chairman and Publicity Secretary of the COPDEM chapter in Riyom.
“The attackers stormed the Bindi community… and in their regular pattern of attack… systematically slaughtered over 20 innocent people,” the statement said, citing survivors’ accurate identification of the perpetrators as Fulani extremists.
The attack occurred, according to COPDEM, even though security personnel and armored military equipment were clearly visible and stationed nearby.
Many families were reportedly evicted and residences were set on fire by the intruders, who were armed with advanced weaponry. The attackers, according to survivors, made no secret of their goal: to exterminate native populations and seize their territory.
“There was an assault… According to the NGO, “homes were burned, families were uprooted, and trauma intensified.”
According to the group, the police disregarded numerous alerts on the assailants’ whereabouts and presence.
It is not unknown who these assailants are. Community leaders and local authorities have regularly identified and reported their base settlements and hiding places. However, these threats persist year after year with little to no opposition, the organization continued.
According to them, the recurring murders raise serious concerns about negligence, collusion, or official failure.
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“The recurrent nature of these atrocities raises serious concerns about inaction, negligence, and systemic compromise in addition to pointing to a failure of protection,” they stated.
In order to remove the identified terrorist strongholds, proclaim a state of emergency in the impacted areas, and immediately initiate a high-level military intervention, the organization urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Plateau State Government, and the security agencies.
They also called for community reconstruction, direct humanitarian aid, and psychological assistance for survivors.
“The routine of condolence visits and hollow press statements from public officials, which they claim have done little to stop the bloodshed,” COPDEM said in a harsh critique.
Every day, we see the burial of our people. We have had enough of silence and sympathy visits. Press releases that don’t result in protection are something we’re sick of,” the statement said.
They maintained that groups such as Wereng, Nding, Bachi, Jol, Rim, and Ta-Hoss “deserve more than sympathy.” They merit justice, safety, and respect.
