Death toll, following Monday’s attack by gunmen on residents of Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Councils of Plateau State has risen to 29. As of Monday, the Berom Youth Movement Volunteers (BYM) had recorded 21 fatalities.

However, yesterday, when our correspondent visited the area, a resident of Riyom, who simply referred to himself as Yakubu, said he had seen eight more corpses in the bush. He said, following the discovery, he informed youths of the area, who mobilised themselves and retrieved the bodies.

Arrangement for their mass burial is reportedly ongoing. In a statement, BYM National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, said: “This has left us with concerns and questions as to whether or not federal security can nip the ongoing genocide in the bud, because government’s primary responsibility is safeguarding life and property.

“BYM, under the leadership of Solomon Dalyop Mwantiri, hereby, condemns coordinated attacks and other forms of provocation meted out on innocent persons of Plateau, since after the 2023 general elections.”

“We call on the new administration, both at federal and state levels, to rise to the occasion with new strategies to address the security situation in the country, particularly, in Plateau State, to forestall further degenerative tendencies of Fulani militias that have heavily infiltrated the state and its environs.” The BYM also called on the Berom nation to remain calm and law abiding but explore every avenue to defend their communities.

The Guardian