Plateau Youth Leader Says He Has Witnessed Five Families Wiped Out in Repeated Attacks

The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, Rwang Tengwong, has described the recent attack on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Plateau State as part of a long pattern of violence, saying he has witnessed more than five families completely wiped out since 2009.

Speaking about the incident, Tengwong, a native of Kum, said armed men invaded the two communities simultaneously at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the assault lasting for about an hour into the early hours of Sunday.

According to him, the attackers arrived in large numbers after an unsuccessful attempt to raid another community before targeting Kum and Wereng-Camp.

Nine Family Members Killed, One Survivor Hospitalised

Tengwong said the gunmen surrounded a house on the outskirts of one of the communities and killed nine members of an extended family.

He explained that one member of the family survived the attack after sustaining life-threatening injuries and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.

Among those killed, he said, was a three-month-old baby. The child’s parents were also victims. He added that the baby’s father was the 21-year-old son of the family, who had married a 19-year-old woman, and the infant was their first child.

‘I’ve Seen More Than Five Families Wiped Out’

Reflecting on the recurring violence in Plateau State, Tengwong said attacks on entire families have become a disturbing pattern.

“They attempted to attack the next house, but it is a trend that is not new on the Plateau because it was not the first time a family had been attacked and wiped out completely,” he said.

He alleged that attackers typically identify vulnerable homes with weak security before breaking in and killing occupants.

“I am talking about as far back as 2009. I have witnessed more than five families wiped out in attacks,” he added.

Claims Over Community Occupation

Addressing the possible motive behind the killings, Tengwong said there was no justification for such violence.

He alleged that after attacks force residents to flee, new occupants move into abandoned communities.

According to him, more than 130 communities in Plateau State have experienced this pattern, with Fulani settlers occupying areas after indigenous residents fled. He also disputed claims that attacks were carried out in retaliation for cattle rustling, arguing that such allegations should be handled through lawful investigations rather than violence.

Tengwong further claimed there have been instances where investigations linked cattle rustling or the killing of Fulani individuals to fellow Fulani rather than indigenous residents, despite initial accusations against local communities.

Vigilantes Outgunned During Attack

The youth leader said local vigilantes responded after hearing screams from the lone survivor but were unable to confront the attackers because they lacked weapons comparable to those used by the gunmen.

He questioned how communities could effectively defend themselves when vigilantes were not licensed to possess firearms while attackers carried sophisticated weapons.

Tengwong also noted that Plateau State’s security outfit, Operation Rainbow, established in 2008 or 2009, had not been licensed by the Federal Government to acquire arms.

Questions Raised Over Security Response

He criticised security agencies over the absence of arrests following the attack and questioned how armed men travelling on motorcycles were able to pass through nearby security checkpoints.

According to him, there are checkpoints located within about 1,000 metres of the affected community from the Abuja-Jos route and another less than 500 metres behind the area.

Tengwong said neither the Plateau State Police Command nor the Joint Task Force had issued statements on the attack at the time of the interview.

Fresh Attacks Reported

He also alleged that additional attacks occurred shortly after the Kum and Wereng-Camp incident.

According to Tengwong, two communities were attacked on Monday, leaving one person dead in one community. He added that a mass burial for 90 victims had been held on Sunday in another affected community, where two other people were injured.

He further claimed that security personnel later visited the area to arrest youths after reports that Fulani cattle had been shot, while no arrests had been made in connection with the killings