Gunmen have reportedly killed four community vigilantes in Shurum village, Dorowa Babuje District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, amid renewed concerns over insecurity in Berom communities.

The attack reportedly occurred at about 11:56 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026, while the vigilantes were keeping watch over their community, according to the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM).

Rwang Tengwong Gyang, the association’s National Publicity Secretary, confirmed the killings in an alert, describing the incident as another disturbing development in the region’s persistent security challenges.

Community Vigilantes Killed on Duty

A community member, Bulus Bature, said the victims were on duty when the attackers struck.

He described the killings as painful, noting that the victims had volunteered to help protect residents from attacks.

The BYM condemned the incident and called on security agencies to investigate the killings, identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from security operatives were unsuccessful at the time of reporting, according to media reports.

Berom Group Condemns Mining-Site Killings

In a separate statement, the association condemned the reported killing of two young Berom men, Goodluck Bulus and Emmanuel Monday, at a mining site in Burdinga, Gashish District, also in Barkin Ladi LGA, on October 16.

The victims were reportedly in their mid-20s.

The association attributed the killings to groups it described as “Radical Islamic Fulani Militias.” The allegation has not been independently verified.

The group said the incident had deepened the grief of families and communities that have endured repeated attacks.

It also disclosed that Goodluck Bulus’s father was killed in an attack by Fulani herdsmen more than a decade ago.

“The apparent repetition of tragedy within the same family underscores the devastating human cost of persistent insecurity and the urgent need to end this cycle of violence,” the association said.

Group Raises Alarm Over Abduction, Killing of Resident

The BYM also expressed concern over the reported abduction and killing of Pam Dachung Kim, a native of Gwol Hoss, on October 13.

According to the association, Kim was abducted and killed while returning from his workplace at Rahoss Primary School.

The group said the incident highlighted the dangers residents face while carrying out their daily activities, including travelling to and from work.

“These are not mere statistics; they are human lives cut short, families shattered, and communities left in fear,” the association said.

BYM Calls for Stronger Security Measures

The association urged the Plateau State Government and relevant security agencies to investigate the reported killings, arrest suspects and prosecute anyone found culpable.

It also called for increased security surveillance around mining sites and vulnerable communities, alongside intelligence-driven operations to prevent further attacks, abductions and killings.

The group warned against allowing recurring violence to become normalised and insisted that affected communities deserved protection and the victims’ families deserved justice.

“The people deserve protection, the victims deserve justice, and the perpetrators must be held accountable,” the association said.