Gunmen kill family of four in Plateau community

Armed attackers have killed a family of four in Gako village in Riyom Local Government Area. The victims include a pastor, Ayuba Choji, his wife Chundung, and their two children, Cyril and Endurance. Residents say the assailants struck late on Sunday night, opening fire on homes and forcing villagers to flee for safety.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the incident occurred around 11 p.m., triggering panic across the community as people ran into nearby bushes. Local sources say the attackers operated with speed and precision, leaving residents shaken and fearful for their safety in their own homes.

Community leaders have raised concerns over what they describe as a pattern of coordinated attacks in the area. According to local groups, armed men often move in units, with some targeting residents while others destroy farmlands or block access routes. Reports also indicate that farmlands in parts of Barkin Ladi have been damaged in recent days, affecting crops and worsening the situation for farmers.

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The latest incident adds to a string of violent attacks across Plateau State, including recent killings in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Jos North. Despite ongoing security operations targeting armed groups and illegal weapons networks, residents say the violence persists. Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of this report.