Gunmen kill three siblings, Dachung, Victor, and Nyam Danjuma, while they were on community night patrol in Tarai, Riyom LGA, Plateau State, a day after two security personnel were killed nearby.
Riyom, Plateau State — August 5, 2026
Three vigilantes from the same family have been killed after suspected gunmen attacked them while they were on community watch in Tarai community, Jol district, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack occurred at around 10:47 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, when assailants reportedly stormed the community and opened fire on local security volunteers conducting a routine night patrol.
The victims, biological brothers Dachung Danjuma, 51, Victor Danjuma, 37, and Nyam Danjuma, 35 — were killed on the spot.
A community member, Lyop Bitrus, said the brothers were keeping watch over the community to protect residents from possible attacks when the gunmen ambushed them, throwing the area into panic as residents fled their homes.
He described the brothers as having sacrificed their lives while protecting their community, noting that the loss was especially painful for Victor Danjuma's family, as he was married with five children.
Spokesperson for the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident, stating that the attackers struck under cover of darkness and specifically targeted the local vigilante team guarding the area.
He called the killings heartbreaking and lamented the continued wave of attacks on communities in Riyom and elsewhere in Plateau State, despite repeated appeals for stronger security measures.
The killing comes barely a day after two security personnel, a police inspector and an Air Force corporal, were ambushed and killed nearby in Riyom LGA, underscoring the deteriorating security situation in the area.
Tengwong urged security agencies to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities and bring the perpetrators to justice, stressing that residents can no longer continue living under constant threat of attack.
As of the time of this report, spokespersons for the State Police Command and Operation Enduring Peace had not responded to requests for comment.
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