Plateau State is in mourning following a series of brutal attacks that have left the state in grief.
The latest victim, Pastor Samuel Nandi was tragically killed Sunday morning while heading to church.
New Telegraph confirmed that in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area two individuals lost their lives in separate incidents, including a pastor of the Baptist Church at Maraban Kantoma, who was ambushed by suspected Fulani bandits on his way to service.
Another victim was reported killed in Ratyidi, Fan District. The atmosphere remains tense as heavy gunfire has been heard around Dorowa Babuje and its surroundings, instilling fear among residents.
The Commander of Operation Endurance Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana in a response to the escalating violence visited the troubled areas on Sunday, vowing to bolster security measures to protect the communities.
Residents in the affected regions are advised to maintain vigilance, limit unnecessary movements, and stay updated on security developments.
Traditional ruler of Dorowa Babuje Da Sambo Chollom recounted the harrowing events of Sunday morning, when the pastor was fatally attacked while en route to church.
“This morning, one of our pastors from Borno came home and was heading to church when he was attacked and killed by suspected Fulani bandits. His son was shot and is currently hospitalized. This is a sad day for us. I have informed the governor about the situation; gunfire continues in Marraban Katonma, forcing our people to flee their villages,” he lamented.
The violence in Plateau State has claimed at least 27 lives and left several others injured in various attacks between September 13 and September 20, 2026. Among the deceased are five individuals who were killed during an evening shooting in Gana-Ropp village, Barkin Ladi LGA, on Saturday, September 19.
The wave of violence began with an attack on a commercial vehicle along a busy highway in South Jos, where at least nine people were murdered as passengers were disembarking at a bustling junction in Dungus, Kuru District, Jos South LGA.
Also in a coordinated series of assaults, two individuals were killed each in Ta-Hoss village in Riyom LGA and Vodni village in Mangu LGA
The simultaneous attacks on Saturday left communities in shock, with five fatalities reported in Gana-Ropp and at least two others injured in Ndar village in Bokkos LGA
These incidents follow an earlier attack at a farmers’ market in Mangu, where three people were killed and seven others, including a seven-month-old baby, were injured.
As the killings of the pastor and others cast a pall over Plateau State, the communities in Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Riyom and Bakkos are left to grapple with the pervasive fear and sorrow brought on by continuous banditry.
