Tears in Riyom: Plateau Communities Bury 27 Slain Farmers

Twenty-seven farmers who were killed in a brutal attack on July 15 in Plateau state have been laid to rest in a mass burial ceremony held on Friday in Riyom Local Government Area.

The victims, comprising men and women, were killed when gunmen invaded Bindi-Jebbu and the Tahoss community in Riyom LGA, leaving eight settlements in ruins. The assailants reportedly set homes ablaze, destroyed farmlands, and killed residents in a pre-dawn raid that left several others injured. Survivors are currently receiving treatment at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Plateau Hospital.

The Plateau state government has criticised the military for allegedly failing to act, noting that the attack occurred just 200 metres from a military checkpoint.

Addressing mourners during the burial, the chairman of Riyom LGA, Bature Shuwa, expressed deep sorrow over the killings.

“My people of Bindi-Jebu and the greater Riyom community are gathered here today in unspeakable grief, hearts heavy with sorrow, to mourn our brothers and sisters. Twenty-seven precious lives, cut down in a cruel and senseless act of violence in the early hours of July 15, 2025,” he said.

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“As your chairman, I stand with you in leadership and deep mourning. I cannot begin to imagine the pain, the silence in your homes, or the weight of these empty spaces left behind.”

Shuwa added, “Let their memories stir a renewed commitment to justice, peace, and security in us. We will not forget. We will not be silent. And we will not rest until our communities are safe.”