Gunmen Kill Farmers, Attack Burial in Plateau State

Gunmen Kill Farmer

A new wave of violence has shaken Plateau State as two farmers were brutally killed and mourners subsequently attacked during their burial in Gwon village, Riyom Local Government Area.

According to Bature Iliya Adazaram, Secretary General of the Berom Youth Moulder-Association (BYM), the victims were ambushed by unidentified gunmen while returning from the Ganawuri market around 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. The incident occurred along the volatile Ganawuri–Tahoss road, a known hotspot for recent unrest.

In a disturbing escalation, the gunmen launched a second assault the following day as community members gathered to lay the victims to rest. Eyewitnesses reported that hundreds of mourners had convened at the burial ground in Gwon when armed assailants, believed to be in large numbers, opened fire, causing panic and forcing attendees to flee for safety.

Quick intervention by personnel from Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a special task force on internal security in Plateau State, helped repel the attackers and stabilize the area. Security operatives from OPSH Sector 6 were praised for their timely response, which prevented what could have turned into a mass casualty incident.

“The attackers, numbering in the hundreds, stormed the burial ground as we gathered to pay our last respects,” Adazaram stated. “People ran in all directions, but thankfully, troops from OPSH responded swiftly and brought the situation under control.”

The Berom Youth Moulder-Association attributed the attacks to suspected Fulani herdsmen, continuing a pattern of mutual mistrust and ethnic tension that has plagued the region for years.

However, Bello Adamu, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Riyom, strongly refuted the allegation, calling it baseless and inflammatory.

“We are not involved in any attack on mourners or any community,” Adamu said. “These accusations are often made without evidence, even when the violence stems from internal disputes or unrelated criminal activity.”

Ongoing Concerns Over Rural Insecurity

The incident underscores the deepening insecurity in Plateau State, where clashes between farming communities and herders have led to recurring violence, displacement, and loss of lives. Analysts have warned that unless proactive steps are taken to improve intergroup relations and address the root causes of the conflict such as land disputes, access to grazing routes, and local governance gaps the cycle of retaliatory attacks may continue.

Local and national authorities are being urged to strengthen peacebuilding initiatives, invest in community policing, and ensure that those responsible for attacks are brought to justice to prevent further escalation.

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