Gunmen killed at least 24 people during an overnight raid on the Bin-Per community in Kombun District within Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. The attackers moved from house to house in the assault that began around midnight on Monday before setting 38 homes ablaze and destroying associated farmlands along with other valuables. Residents and local sources provided details of the methodical assault to the Arab Times as the community began burying its dead on Tuesday. Police reached the scene shortly after the gunmen withdrew leaving survivors to account for the losses.
Bulus Dabit the president of the Mangu Development Association outlined how the raiders targeted residents in their homes during the attack. Mathew Joseph a survivor recounted escaping with his family as the violence unfolded around them. Matthew Sylvester Kwarpo a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly urged authorities to bolster intelligence capabilities to curb future incidents in the area. These accounts emerged Tuesday as the full scope of the destruction became clearer.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the killings and called on residents to maintain calm amid the tragedy. He directed security agencies to intensify surveillance across affected zones while arranging immediate humanitarian aid for displaced families and the bereaved. The governor’s instructions focused on restoring order and preventing any escalation in the wake of the raid that struck his home county.
Police Commissioner Faniyan Ayodeji visited the site to assess damage and coordinate the response with local leaders. Spokesman Alfred Alabo confirmed the attack’s occurrence and the preliminary casualty count on behalf of state authorities. Investigations have commenced to trace the gunmen and hold them accountable for the deaths and widespread destruction.
The latest killings follow a similar assault in June that claimed 20 lives in the Kawel community of nearby Bokkos Local Government Area. Anadolu Agency reported that the incident has raised concerns about possible reprisal attacks in the volatile region. A 2018 International Crisis Group assessment found that herder-farmer conflicts in states including Plateau had already killed more than 1,300 people in just the first six months of that year.
Subsequent monitoring showed the violence persisting with at least 542 civilians killed and around 2.2 million displaced between 2019 and 2025 due to disputes over land and grazing routes. A BBC report from earlier this year illustrated how repeated attacks have forced tens of thousands in Plateau State to flee their homes on multiple occasions. Community leaders continue to seek lasting solutions as the cycle of violence strains local resources and reconciliation efforts.
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