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At Least 24 Killed in Gunmen Attack on Plateau Community in Nigeria
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ Kuwait /Conflict & Security

At Least 24 Killed in Gunmen Attack on Plateau Community in Nigeria

From Arab Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Gunmen attacked the Bin-Per community in Nigeria's Plateau State, killing at least 24 people.
  • The assault occurred overnight, with attackers moving house-to-house while residents slept.
  • The violence adds to a long-standing cycle of communal clashes in Plateau State, with authorities urging calm and increased security.

At least 24 people were killed when gunmen stormed the Bin-Per community in Nigeria's north-central Plateau State, according to residents and local sources. The attack, which began around midnight on Monday and continued into the early hours of Tuesday, saw assailants move from house to house, targeting sleeping residents.

Survivors described hearing screams as armed men approached their homes. Mathew Sylvester Kwarpo, a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, reported that 38 houses were burned during the assault, with farmlands, stored grains, and other valuables also destroyed. Kwarpo urged security agencies to enhance intelligence gathering, surveillance, and rapid deployment to vulnerable areas, also calling for emergency aid for those affected.

We were sleeping when we heard people in our neighborhood screaming.

โ€” Mathew JosephA resident describing the moment the attack began.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attack and directed security agencies to intensify patrols in Bin-Per and other at-risk communities. He appealed to residents to remain calm, avoid retaliation, and provide information to help identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

The incident is the latest in a persistent cycle of violence in Plateau State, often stemming from disputes between farming communities and herders. This year has seen a resurgence of deadly attacks, including one in June that killed at least 20 people in the Kawel community. Authorities confirmed the attack and visited the area to assess the situation, emphasizing the need for strengthened security measures.

38 houses were burned during the attack. Farmlands, stored grains and other valuables were also destroyed.

โ€” Matthew Sylvester KwarpoA member of the Plateau State House of Assembly detailing the destruction caused by the attack.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Arab Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.