A wave of sorrow swept through Plateau State on Friday as 27 victims of a brutal attack in the Bindi-Jebbu community of Riyom Local Government Area were laid to rest in a mass burial.
The victims, mostly local farmers, were killed during a violent assault by suspected Fulani militia in the early hours of July 15, 2025.
Family members, friends, and local officials gathered in mourning, their cries of grief echoing across the burial site.
The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow as the community paid their final respects.
Riyom LG Chairman, Mr. Bature Shuwa, who addressed mourners during the ceremony, condemned the persistent violence plaguing rural communities in the area.
He described the killings as senseless and deeply painful.
“We gather today with broken hearts to mourn 27 precious lives lost to an act of cruelty,” Shuwa said. “These were not just victims—they were fathers, mothers, children, neighbours, and farmers.
Their absence has left a void that words cannot fill.”
Shuwa vowed that their deaths would not be in vain, emphasizing the need for justice, peace, and improved security. “We will not forget. We will not be silent. And we will not rest until our communities are safe,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during a separate event in Jos, pledged that the Federal Government is committed to ending the killings and restoring peace to Plateau State.
Akpabio was speaking at the funeral of the late Professor Janet Plang, wife of Senator Diket Plang, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity, held at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) headquarters in Jos.
His assurance came in response to an appeal from Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to stop what he described as the “needless murder of innocent indigenes” by terrorist elements.
“The Senate will work closely with security agencies and relevant bodies to ensure an end to this violence,” Akpabio said. “Be assured that your message will be delivered to President Bola Tinubu, and urgent steps will be taken to protect lives and property in the state.”
Paying tribute to the late Professor Plang, Akpabio described her as a devoted wife, mother, and humanitarian.
He prayed for comfort for her family and all who mourn her passing.
