Residents evacuate women and children from Dorowa Bubuje in Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State, as sustained gunfire from the Kantoma area follows the weekend attacks that killed nine people, including a pastor.
Barkin Ladi, Plateau State — September 21, 2026
Tension has gripped Dorowa Bubuje community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, as women and children are being evacuated following renewed gunfire reportedly heard from the direction of Kantoma, an escalation that comes just hours after weekend attacks killed at least nine people, including a pastor, across the same LGA.
Community member Lawrence Shong told Vanguard that as of 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, gunshots were still being heard, forcing residents to gather and retreat from areas considered vulnerable to attack. "As I speak to you, at about 12:15pm on Sunday, we are still hearing sounds of gunshots," he said, adding that women and children are being moved to safer locations while the situation continues to unfold.
Rwang Tengwong, spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders, who was present in the community, corroborated the account, describing a tense scene with residents actively moving away from vulnerable areas. "Currently, women and children are being evacuated from this place because of the ongoing attack," Tengwong said. "We are still hearing gunshots from the direction of Kantoma, and that is forcing people to retreat."
Both Shong and Tengwong credited the military with helping to repel attacks and prevent further escalation in the area. Tengwong said military personnel had been drafted to the community, but stressed that what residents need now is sustained security deployment to protect the population and prevent further attacks, rather than a temporary response to the immediate crisis.
The evacuation adds a distressing, real-time dimension to what was already a devastating weekend for Barkin Ladi and neighbouring Riyom LGA, which saw five labourers killed en route to Gana-Ropp, a pastor and another victim killed near Dorowa Babuje, and additional deaths at Baten Wereng and Ratyidi, alongside cattle rustling at Dorowa Maranba and the Kantoma axis.
That the violence appears to be continuing into Sunday afternoon, with residents still fleeing as gunfire persists, suggests the security situation in Barkin Ladi has not yet been brought fully under control despite the military's intervention.
This is a developing situation. We will update this report as more information becomes available.
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