Not less than three persons, including two women and a man, have reportedly been killed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia who laid an ambush at a bridge between Gassa and Nding, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, BYM, Rwang Tengwong, who confirmed this in a statement on Sunday, said the attack took place at about 7:30pm on Friday, January 16th, 2026.
Tengwong stated that the victims were on their way back to Fan District when they were ambushed by gunmen operating from the Jong area of Ropp District which is believed to be their recent hideout.
“The victims, comprising a man and two women, were shot at close range. A one-year-old baby being carried by one of the women, survived the attack but sustained injuries,” the BYM spokesman said in the statement.
He said shortly after the incident, the gunmen moved to a nearby mining site in Rabuk village of Nding District, where close to 200 people were working at the time, and opened fire on the miners who fled in different directions. In contrast, the gunmen made away with their items, including the already mined products, though there were no casualties due to the vigilance of local residents.
“It is with deep concern that the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) under the leadership of Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, reports a fresh and deadly attack by a group of terrorist individuals on innocent civilians in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, where three persons—one man and two women—were ambushed and killed. At the same time, a not less than one-year-old baby was injured this evening at about 7:30pm at the bridge between Gassa and Nding,” Tengwong said.
He went on to condemn the attacks which he described as part of a “disturbing and coordinated pattern of violence spreading across Plateau State, insisting that they were not isolated occurrences.”
“BYM expresses concern over the timing of the attacks, coming barely a day after the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) made an unverified and inflammatory allegation that over 100 cows were rustled at Ganawuri in Riyom Local Government Area, allegedly by Berom youths from Vwang in Jos South Local Government Area.”
Tengwong questioned the credibility of the MACBAN allegation, asking how such a large number of cattle could be rustled without leaving any trace, and whether criminal elements within the axis of the alleged incident or among other groups were being overlooked.
“Cattle rustling is a criminal activity that cuts across ethnic and religious lines. The sequence of events has reinforced our position that such unsubstantiated claims are often used as smokescreens to justify or trigger violent attacks on communities.
“BYM calls on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the claims by MACBAN, and to identify, arrest, and prosecute all perpetrators and collaborators involved in both cattle rustling and coordinated attacks across Plateau State,” the statement concluded.
Gunmen strike Plateau communities, mining sites, kill three
