June 13, (THEWILL) – At least 21 people including Rev. Nichodemus Kim of the Church of Christ in Nation (COCIN) have been killed and several others injured in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, in a statement on Tuesday, said the victims were killed on Sunday night, by gunmen.
Tengwong said the pastor was killed at Gana-Ropp community of Barkin Ladi, while others were killed in Rim, Jol, and Kwi communities of Riyom.
”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 2pm and 7pm on Sunday.
”In Kwi, an entire community, Hei-gwe, was razed and over 100 farmlands destroyed.
”The BYM, under the leadership of Solomon Mwantiri, hereby condemns the coordinated attacks and other forms of provocation meted out on innocent persons of Plateau since after the 2023 general elections.
“We call on the new administration both at 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 must explore every avenue to defend their communities as we cannot sit and watch while they kill us one after another,” he said.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, confirmed the killings in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA), Gyang Bere.
The Governor also confirmed the kidnapping of a traditional ruler in Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area of 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.
