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Barkin Ladi, Plateau State – By Prime Brief Media

Gunmen killed at least five people in the Fan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, on the night of 3 May, 2026, in the latest outbreak of violence in a region that has witnessed repeated deadly assaults on rural communities.

Residents told Prime Brief Media that the attack occurred around 9:00 p.m., as villagers were returning home from their farms and evening activities. Bot James, a resident of the area, said the attackers arrived and fired sporadically at people along a village path. According to him, four persons died at the scene, while a fifth victim who sustained severe injuries was rushed to hospital but later died.

The Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident in a brief statement on Sunday. He described the killings as “unfortunate and condemnable” and called on security agencies to strengthen patrols in vulnerable areas and redouble efforts to protect lives and property.

“It is heartbreaking that while communities continue to raise alarms, attacks like these still happen. We appeal to the security forces to intensify surveillance and bring those responsible to justice,” Tengwong said.

Spokespersons for Operation Enduring Peace, the military task force maintaining security in Plateau State, and the Plateau State Police Command had not responded to requests for comment at the time of this briefing. Prime Brief Media is working to independently verify the full circumstances surrounding the incident and will provide updates as official information becomes available.

Barkin Ladi has remained one of the most volatile axes in Plateau State’s protracted security crisis. The area, populated mainly by Berom farming communities, has suffered recurrent attacks in recent years, with ethnic coalitions and local leaders estimating that hundreds have been killed across Berom-majority local government areas between late 2025 and early 2026. Community groups have repeatedly accused suspected Fulani militias of responsibility, though such allegations remain contested. The cycle of raids and reprisals has persisted despite assurances from both federal and state authorities.

Sunday’s attack came just days after a coalition of Berom groups accused the military of detaining eight of its members who had acted in self-defence during previous assaults, while calling on the international community to intervene. The cumulative toll, local leaders argue, is driving a deep sense of abandonment among rural populations.

Prime Brief Media will continue to track security and rescue efforts across the state as this story develops.

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