The Plateau state government has expressed displeasure over the military’s failure to arrest or neutralise the attackers of 27 farmers in Riyom LGA.
Recall that on July 16, at least 27 farmers were killed by gunmen in an attack on Bindi, a community in Riyom LGA of the state. The assailants reportedly attacked the community at about 3a.m, setting homes ablaze, destroying crops, and leaving a trail of devastation across eight settlements.
Afterwards, the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, asked security agencies to overhaul their approach to tackling insecurity in the state. The Governor expressed concern that the attack took place despite intelligence warnings, adding that security forces must end the era of “unknown gunmen” and make arrests.
Speaking yesterday during a television programme, the state’s commissioner for information, Joyce Ramnap, claimed that the soldiers had close contact with the attackers but failed to make any arrests.
Ramnap said a military checkpoint was located 200 metres from the scene of the attack, adding that the community is not remote and help could have arrived swiftly.
“The response we got was that none were arrested and none were captured. None of those who carried out the attack have been apprehended despite the proximity of the soldiers to the location. It is not an obscure location. It is along a route that has checkpoints”, she stated.
According to Ramnap, the state government is not generalising blame on the military but expects greater accountability. She said the security situation in Plateau remains dire and urged the federal government to take urgent action.
Plateau has been plagued by repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months. In April 2025, over 100 people were killed in coordinated raids on Bokkos and Bassa LGAs, sparking nationwide and international condemnation.
