Plateau faults military over killing of 27 farmers ‘200 meters from checkpoint’

The Plateau state government has expressed displeasure over the military’s failure to arrest or neutralise the attackers of 27 farmers in Riyom LGA.

On July 16, at least 27 farmers were killed by gunmen in an attack on Bindi, a community in Riyom LGA of the state.

The assailants reportedly attacked the community at about 3 am, setting homes ablaze, destroying crops, and leaving a trail of devastation across eight settlements.

Afterwards, Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau, asked security agencies to overhaul their approach to tackling insecurity in the state.

The governor expressed concern that the attack took place despite intelligence warnings, adding that security forces must end the era of “unknown gunmen” and make arrests.

Speaking on Friday during The Morning Brief, a Channels TV programme, Joyce Ramnap, Plateau commissioner for information, claimed that the soldiers had close contact with the attackers but failed to make any arrests.

Ramnap said a military checkpoint was located 200 metres from the scene of the attack, adding that the community is not remote and help could have arrived swiftly.

“The response we got was that none were arrested and none were captured,” she said.

“None of those who carried out the attack have been apprehended despite the proximity of the soldiers to the location. It is not an obscure location. It is along a route that has checkpoints.”

She said that the government is not generalising blame on the military but expects greater accountability.

“We do not want to stereotype and say the entire army compromised in this case. However, there is room to do more investigation, and the governor specifically requested that at least they should have made some arrests,” Ramnap said.

“If you engaged them at close range, then there should be leads on where they escaped to or efforts to trail them.

“Like the governor has said, we have gallant soldiers in the country, and many of them are doing their best in Plateau.

“But of course, we still have some bad eggs among them. One side of the community was able to fend them off.

“The worst-hit area was where people were hiding in a church. That was where the casualties were highest.”

She recounted how a pastor fled the church with his wife, only for six people to be murdered in his house.

Ramnap said the security situation in Plateau remains dire and urged the federal government to take urgent action.

Plateau has been plagued by repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months.

In April 2025, over 100 people were killed in coordinated raids on Bokkos and Bassa LGAs, sparking nationwide and international condemnation.