Plateau Massacre: Over 20 Killed in Riyom, Igniting Fresh Security Concerns.
More than 20 people were tragically killed yesterday in Tahoss village, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, when gunmen, armed with automatic rifles and machetes, launched a brutal assault. Despite the reported presence of security personnel in the vicinity, the attackers managed to overwhelm local police, set homes ablaze, and abduct several residents.
Graphic footage circulating on social media depicts the devastating aftermath: burnt buildings, scattered personal belongings, and distraught families grappling with profound loss. While no specific group has claimed responsibility for the atrocity, the pattern of violence strongly resembles the long-standing herder-farmer conflicts prevalent in Nigeria's central region.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a massacre in Benue State in July, which reportedly left over 150 people dead, signaling a disturbing surge in both the scale and intensity of communal violence across the country. In response, lawmakers are increasingly urging the federal government to adopt more intelligence-driven security responses and to significantly invest in robust rural security infrastructure.
Experts warn that unless Nigeria comprehensively addresses the deeper, underlying causes of this persistent violence—including unresolved land disputes, the impacts of climate change, and systemic weaknesses in rural policing—the cycle of bloodshed will continue. Such unchecked insecurity not only undermines public confidence in the government but also poses a severe threat to national unity and stability.
I'm Adedayo Obadina
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