Victims of a violent attack by gunmen in the nearby Rim town on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, were returning from a funeral in the Bachit community in Plateau State. Locals say Fulani militiamen stopped the route and opened fire on the gathering, killing one young guy and injuring several others as they grieved.
The victims had assembled in Bachit as part of a funeral procession to pay their respects. The gunmen materialized out of nowhere and halted the parade as they returned home via Rim. Reports from those who were there say the assailants halted the funeral procession for more than five hours. Shots were fired at those who, despite warnings, tried to cross the road. The amputation of a young man's hand left him in severe condition.
From Jos, the capital of the state, one survivor, Timothy Dantong—the Liaison Officer to Governor Caleb Mutfwang for Riyom State Constituency—described the horrors. He detailed the group's precarious situation until an armored tank escorted by security troops came to their rescue.
The incident is part of a worrying trend of violence in Plateau State, where towns have been under siege from armed groups. Dantong voiced significant worry about the continuous danger, stating that even on the day following the slaughter, gunmen blocked roads and assaulted residents on motorbikes in the adjacent Wereng settlement.
The violence is not restricted to random citizens. As another target, assailants stormed the Riyom community house of Damishi Sango, the former Minister of Sports. The incident resulted in the death of a female relative and injury to three others, including a security guard who is presently hospitalized. Thankfully, the former minister himself was uninjured since he was inside the home throughout the incident.
The assaults have left communities afraid and feeling threatened. Dantong criticized the situation, noting that his hamlet is boxed in by the extremists, unable to move freely without facing assault. He urged security services to enhance efforts to safeguard innocent individuals and bring criminals to justice.
Despite repeated efforts, the spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command did not reply to calls requesting comment on the event as of the time of reporting.
Plateau State has traditionally been a hotbed for communal and militia violence, frequently involving battles between farmers and pastoralist communities. The current incident emphasizes the precarious security situation and the vulnerability of regular residents, particularly during serious events such as funerals.
The use of severe violence, including shooting and amputation, suggests a troubling rise in methods adopted by armed organizations. Such violence not only causes bodily injury but also instills fear and undermines social cohesiveness in impacted society.
The event shows the critical need for increased security measures and community safety in Plateau State. The presence of armored trucks and security officers was important in rescuing the trapped mourners, but the delay enabled the assailants to inflict considerable injury.
Local leaders and government officials confront the responsibility of restoring peace and ensuring that people may continue their everyday routines without fear. The targeting of mourners and assaults on important individuals’ residences suggest a collapse in law and order that demands concerted action.
The assault on mourners coming from a burial in Rim village, resulting in the amputation of a youth’s limb, is a sharp reminder of the continuous insecurity in Plateau State. It shows the vulnerability of citizens to armed militia groups and the urgent need for improved security measures.
As the community mourns the deceased and tends to the injured, there is a rising clamor for immediate action from security services and government officials to prevent the cycle of violence and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of Plateau’s citizens.
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