Gunmen Kill ‘23 People’ in Reprisal Attack on Plateau Community

At least 23 people, including women and children, have been killed in a suspected reprisal attack on Bin-Per community in Kombun district of Mangu LGA of Plateau State.

The attack occurred less than 48 hours after Fulani residents were targeted in Jwak Maitumbi, also in Mangu LGA.

Several residents were reportedly killed in Sunday’s attack, while about 45 residential shelters and large quantities of crops were destroyed.

According Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, suspected Fulani militias invaded Bin-Per in the early hours of Tuesday, approaching the predominantly farming community through an isolated route from the neighbouring Bokkos axis.

The attack has heightened tensions in the area, where communities have endured repeated cycles of violence, reprisal attacks, displacement and destruction of livelihoods.

A military security source told Zagazola that troops were deployed shortly after receiving reports of the attack but arrived after the assailants had withdrawn.

“Upon arrival, the troops conducted a sweep of the general area, but the attackers had already withdrawn from the community,” the publication quoted the source as saying.

Reinforcements, including security personnel operating alongside Operation Rainbow, subsequently joined the response, after which the combined team conducted a search of the community.

The operation led to the recovery of 16 bodies, including those of women and children.

The military said efforts were continuing to search the area, establish the final casualty figure and gather further information about the attack.

However, Lemun Le’an Iliya, councillor representing Kombun ward, and the Mwaghavul Youth Movement gave higher casualty figures, putting the death toll at between 23 and 24.

The youth group said 24 people were killed in the attack.

Zagazola said the discrepancy could be explained by the initial recovery of 16 bodies by security personnel, while residents continued to account for people who were missing, injured or displaced.