At least 10 people have been confirmed dead following coordinated attacks on communities in Plateau State, heightening fears of renewed violence along the troubled Barkin Ladi–Riyom corridor.
The killings, which occurred on Sunday evening, 22 February 2026, targeted Ratatis and Dorowa Babuje in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, as well as Jol community in neighbouring Riyom LGA.
Local sources said the assaults took place between about 7:30 pm and 9:00 pm, with armed groups striking multiple settlements almost simultaneously.
Initial reports indicated that seven people were killed, but the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) later confirmed a higher toll.
Its National President, Barrister Solomon Dalyop, said nine people were killed in Dorowa Babuje and one person in Jol, with several others injured and who were taken to nearby hospitals.
Dalyop said the attackers who invaded Jol reportedly arrived on motorcycles from the Manga axis despite earlier warnings to security agencies about suspicious movements in the area.
National President of Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Barrister Solomon Dalyop, speaking following the attacks
He added that personnel of Operation Rainbow were already deployed and managed to repel some of the attackers, preventing higher casualties.
In Dorowa Babuje, he claimed the assailants emerged from the Jong-Wereh area, where they were believed to have been camping before launching the assault.
The attacks have intensified tension in the Barkin Ladi–Riyom community, a region that has repeatedly witnessed cycles of night raids, ambushes, and reprisals.
Bodies of victims are being deposited in the Barkin Ladi Morgue. Credit: Matthewtegha BLOG
Local leaders say the persistence of violence along known routes highlights gaps in intelligence gathering and rural security coverage.
Meanwhile, the Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) issued a counterclaim, alleging retaliatory attacks on its members.
The association said two teenage herders, Muhammad Sani, 18, and Furuk Bilyaminu, 17, were killed near Jol less than 48 hours after three herders were reportedly ambushed along the Dorowa–Jong Road.
MACBAN chairman Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo said the incidents had been reported to the DSS, police, and Operation Enduring Peace, urging members to remain calm while calling for protection of pastoral communities.
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN). Credit: The Cable
Residents of the affected communities say fear has returned to an area already marred by years of violence.
While families were seen mourning victims as tension spread across neighbouring villages, community leaders have renewed calls for sustained military deployment, improved surveillance, and proactive peacebuilding measures to prevent further bloodshed.
Online reactions also reflected deep frustration and distrust, with some commenters disputing the official casualty figures and suggesting the death toll may be higher.
Bodies wrapped in leaves. Credit: Matthewtegha BLOG
Others called for independent verification of the competing narratives emerging from community groups and pastoral associations.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies and government officials had yet to release a formal statement on the attacks.
Analysts warn that without sustained intervention, the recurring violence in Barkin Ladi and Riyom could spiral into wider instability, further deepening communal divisions and prolonging the cycle of reprisals that has long defined Plateau’s rural conflict zones.
