In a tragic incident, Reverend Nichodemus Kim, a pastor of the Church of Christ in Nation, along with 20 other individuals, were fatally shot by suspected gunmen in the Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
The pastor was targeted in the Gana-Ropp community of Barkin Ladi, while the remaining victims were killed in the Rim, Jol, and Kwi communities of Riyom.
Mr. Rwang Tengwong, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement, a socio-cultural group, released a statement in Jos on Tuesday, revealing these distressing events.
According to Tengwong, the attacks were carried out simultaneously, displaying a high level of coordination.
The assaults transpired on Sunday night, leaving numerous individuals injured and resulting in the displacement of several scores of people.
The communities affected by the attacks are currently grappling with the aftermath of this tragic incident.
Tengwong said, “Twenty-one persons were killed and several others injured on Sunday during coordinated attacks by militias on residents of Rim, Jol, Kwi communities of Riyom as well as Gana-Ropp community in Barkin Ladi
“Two persons were killed at Rim, Seven at Jol, 11 at Kwi, all in Riyom, while a clergyman, Rev. Nichodemus Kim, was killed in Gana-Ropp Barkin Ladi
“The attacks on Rim, Jol and Kwi were simultaneously coordinated and held between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday.
“In Kwi, an entire community, Hei-gwe, was razed and over 100 farmlands destroyed,” he said.
He called on the government and security agencies to devise a permanent end to the constant attacks and killings in communities.
Condemning the coordinated attacks and other forms of provocation inflicted on innocent people of Plateau after the 2023 general elections, he said that
BYM, under the leadership of Solomon Mwantiri, strongly condemned the attacks.
He said, “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 Plateau.
“Security personnel must also wake up to their statutory responsibilities to safeguard lives and property.
“BYM equally calls on the Berom nation to remain calm and law abiding, but they must explore every avenue to defend their communities, as we cannot sit and watch while they kill us one after another.”
Police in the state, at the time this report was filed was yet to speak on the incident, however, the Governor of the state, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, confirmed the killings in a statement issued through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr Gyang Bere.
The governor added that a traditional ruler in Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, had been kidnapped.
He promised the people of the state of his determination to addressing the spate of attacks, killings, kidnappings, and other security challenges in the state.
“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 as he urged residents of the state to disregard their differences and unite for the progress of the state.