Residents of Sabon Layi community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State were thrown into panic on Saturday evening after gunmen suspected to be terrorists attacked the area, killing one woman and injuring another resident.
The assailants reportedly invaded the community at about 6:15 p.m., shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee their homes. Eyewitnesses said one woman was killed during the attack, while a man who sustained severe gunshot wounds was rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital for urgent treatment.
The Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident to journalists, saying the attackers stormed the community in large numbers and opened fire on residents. He said the incident had heightened fear in the area, especially among farming communities already troubled by repeated attacks.
Tengwong alleged that between April and May 9, no fewer than 30 natives had been killed in separate attacks around Barkin Ladi, while more than 70 hectares of farmland had been destroyed. His claims come amid a wave of recent violence in the local government area. Earlier this week, police confirmed a deadly attack on Nding Susut community in Fan District, where five people, including four women and a nine-year-old boy, were killed and three others injured.
Barkin Ladi has recorded several attacks in recent weeks. On May 2, gunmen killed four people, including a pregnant woman, at a mining site in Mazat community, Ropp District. In April, gunmen also attacked Ra Kung village in Ropp District, injuring one person and destroying more than 15 hectares of farmland, according to the Berom Youth Moulders Association.
Tengwong called on security agencies to intensify operations in vulnerable communities, warning that residents were living in fear and urgently needed protection to prevent further violence.
A community source said security operatives had been deployed to Sabon Layi to prevent escalation and restore calm. However, as of the time of reporting, security agencies had not issued an official statement on the latest attack.
The incident adds to growing concerns over persistent insecurity in Plateau State, where rural communities continue to face killings, displacement and destruction of farmlands despite repeated security deployments.
