Gunmen kill pastor, 20 others in Plateau

Gunmen have killed a pastor at the Church of Christ in Nation (COCIN), Nichodemus Kim, and 20 others in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

The pastor was killed in Gana-Ropp community in Barkin Ladi, while others were murdered in Rim, Jol, and Kwi communities in Riyom LGA of Plateau State.

Speaking on the incident via a statement issued on Tuesday, June 13, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement (BYM), a socio-cultural group, Rwang Tengwong, disclosed that the communities were attacked simultaneously, adding that the attacks were coordinated.

Tengwong stated that the attacks, which occurred on Sunday night, left many persons with various degrees of injuries, adding that scores of residents were displaced.

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He said: “21 persons were killed and several others injured on Sunday during coordinated attacks by militias on residents of Rim, Jol, Kwi communities of Riyom as well as Gana-Ropp community in Barkin Ladi.

“Two persons were killed at Rim, Seven at Jol, 11 at Kwi, all in Riyom, while a clergyman, Rev. Nichodemus Kim, was killed in Gana-Ropp Barkin Ladi

“The attacks on Rim, Jol, and Kwi were simultaneously coordinated and held between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday.

“In Kwi, an entire community, Hei-gwe, was razed and over 100 farmlands destroyed.”

Tengwong called on the Plateau State Government and the security agencies to fashion out lasting solutions to the spate of attacks and killings in the state.

Confirming the attacks, the governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, promised residents of the state of his commitment to tackling insecurity in the state.

The governor, who also confirmed the abduction of a traditional ruler in Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, said: “Let me assure the people that we are retooling the security apparatus of the state and by the special grace of God we will have a secured Plateau.”

The Star