Fresh Plateau attacks leave six farmers dead, one injured

Six farmers have been killed and one other injured in fresh attacks on Foron and Gero communities in Plateau State, spanning Jos South and Barkin Ladi local government areas, sparking renewed tension in the troubled region.

Solomon Dalyop, National President of the Berom Youth Moulder-Association (BYM), said the victims were attacked at a mining site in the Gero community, where gunmen allegedly opened fire on farmers working at the location.

According to Dalyop, “the incident occurred at about 9:34 a.m., when the assailants suddenly opened fire on miners at the site, forcing others to flee for safety”.

Read also: Gunmen kill seven in fresh attack on Plateau village

In a related incident, Rwang Tengwong, spokesperson of the BYM, said another farmer was killed near the Foron community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area by armed men.

“During the attack, Ayuba Pam Choji, aged 44, was brutally stabbed to death,” Tengwong said, adding that the deceased was riding on a motorcycle with another person who narrowly escaped.

Tengwong quoted the survivor as saying that “the assailants suddenly emerged from hiding and attacked them without provocation,” alleging that the attackers had earlier positioned themselves around the Bisichi axis.

He further claimed that the attackers had issued threats and an ultimatum for residents to vacate the area on or before January 7, 2026, before fleeing back towards the Bisichi area after the attack, while accusing members of the Fulani ethnic group of responsibility.

However, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, Plateau State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), denied the allegation, saying, “It is unfortunate that the Berom would always accuse us of crimes we know nothing about despite attacks on herders and their cattle, we are still being accused of attacking others. The allegation is baseless and uncalled for”.

Nathaniel E. Gbaoron is the Plateau State correspondent for BusinessDay and a seasoned journalist with a decade of experience covering sub-national affairs across Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and other states.

He holds both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from Fidel Polytechnic, Gboko. Over the years, he has participated in numerous media trainings and workshops spanning various areas of reporting, strengthening his expertise in economic and political reporting, community-level governance, development stories, and conflict-sensitive journalism. He is a member of Correspondent Chapel in Plateau state, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he is also a Rotarian and a member of Plateau Club 1921.

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