Fear has gripped Gako Village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State after armed men stormed the community on Sunday night, killing a pastor and three members of his family in a brutal attack.
The victims were identified as Rev. Ayuba Choji, his wife Chundung Ayuba, and their two children, Cyril Ayuba and Endurance Ayuba.
Eyewitness accounts say the attackers invaded the village around 11 p.m., shooting indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee for safety.
A community member, Martha Dalyop, described the incident as terrifying, noting that the attackers operated without resistance and left destruction in their wake.
She lamented that repeated attacks have made life increasingly unbearable for residents, many of whom now live in constant fear and can no longer safely farm or sleep in their homes.
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Confirming the incident, the Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youths Moulder Association, Rwang Tengwong, said the attackers appeared to operate in coordinated groups, targeting not only residents but also vigilantes and farmlands.
He added that large portions of farmland in nearby communities, including Kassa in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, had also been destroyed in recent days, with crops such as maize, cabbage, and pepper affected further worsening food insecurity and economic hardship in the region.
The latest attack adds to a growing wave of violence in Plateau communities, raising renewed concerns over rural security and the protection of vulnerable farming populations.
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