Suspected Fulani militias have carried out another deadly attack in Plateau State, killing a 65-year-old man and injuring several others in Gako village, Rim District of Riyom Local Government Area.
The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, confirmed the incident in a statement issued Saturday night.
He said the attackers stormed the village on the night of Friday, October 3, 2025, and began shooting indiscriminately.
“While Nigerians were happily waiting to welcome His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on a condolence visit to Plateau State, suspected bandits under the guise of Fulani militants attacked Gako village of Rim District in Riyom Local Government Area at about 8:30pm, resulting in the death of Mr Bulus Dongo, and injuring others,” Mwantiri said.
He disclosed that the late Mr. Dongo died instantly after being shot, leaving behind a wife and six dependants. The attackers reportedly entered the community through nearby corn farmlands.
Mwantiri expressed concern that the attack occurred despite prior warnings issued to residents of Rim and surrounding areas.
“There was an early warning sent to communities in the district to be on the alert as they were likely to be attacked, and lo and behold, the bandits, whose intent is to mar the atmosphere of euphoria the President’s visit,” he stated.
According to him, the incident reflects a disturbing trend of violence that often follows any resistance to open grazing or destruction of farmland by suspected armed herders.
“This kind of tragic incident has always followed any resistance staged against continuous mischievous grazing and willful destruction of farmlands daily meted out on Rim, Tahoss, Jol, Kwi, Wereng, Rahoss, Kogo and other borderline villages which appears to have been apparently allowed as part of the conspiracy of silence and complacency with sole aim of encouraging the ongoing banditry and terrorism waged by the Fulani militants in and around Plateau State and beyond,” he said.
The BYM condemned the sustained attacks, describing them as a deliberate campaign to displace and impoverish the Berom people.
“The Berom Youths, therefore, condemn in its entirety the aggression perpetually waged by the armed Fulani, who have vowed to bring our people to extinction as well as abject impoverishment,” he added.
Calling for urgent government action, Mwantiri urged the Plateau State House of Assembly to initiate legislative measures to prohibit open grazing in the state, warning that failure to act would pose a serious threat to food security.
“We, in view of this, call on the Plateau State House of Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, set in motion a legislative proceedings halting open grazing otherwise food security will increasingly be threatened.”
He further advised residents of vulnerable communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security agencies.
“The BYM also calls on residents of hamlets, villages and communities to intensify vigilance and report to security any suspicious movement,” Mwantiri said.
