Residents of Gwon-Ajang village in Foron District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, were on Monday thrown into mourning as eight victims of a recent gunmen attack were laid to rest in a mass burial.
The solemn ceremony drew family members, community leaders, religious leaders, and sympathisers who gathered to pay their final respects to those killed in the violent attack that occurred between Saturday and Sunday.
The assault, which also left more than 15 people injured, has further heightened tension and concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of Plateau State, where communities have continued to face repeated attacks.
Speaking during the burial, a former member of the House of Representatives representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Hon. Peter Gyendeng, expressed deep sorrow over the killings, describing the recurring attacks as painful and unacceptable.
He lamented that despite the peaceful disposition of residents, violence against communities had persisted, leaving people in constant fear and uncertainty.
Gyendeng urged security agencies and government authorities to take decisive action to end the killings and ensure that those responsible are arrested and brought to justice.
Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ishaya David Lalu, described the continuous attacks as tragic and a direct threat to peaceful coexistence in the state.
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He called on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities and restore confidence among residents who have repeatedly come under attack.
Reacting as well, the national president of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Dalyop Mwantiri, said many rural communities remain exposed due to inadequate security presence, adding that residents often depend on poorly equipped vigilante groups.
He urged the Federal Government to deploy more security personnel to vulnerable areas and strengthen efforts to prevent further attacks.
Mwantiri also called for urgent reforms in the security architecture of the state and appealed for stronger collaboration to address the rising wave of violence affecting rural communities.
The mass burial has once again drawn attention to the persistent insecurity in Plateau State, with renewed calls from stakeholders for lasting solutions to end the cycle of attacks and killings.
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