Fresh details have emerged from Saturday night’s deadly attack on Wereng-Camp in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, with a community leader alleging that the gunmen deployed drones to monitor the area before killing nine members of the same family.
The attack, which lasted into the early hours of Sunday, claimed the lives of nine relatives, including a three-month-old baby, deepening concerns over the growing sophistication of armed attacks in Plateau communities.
Speaking to journalists, community leader Mr. Cholom Dung alleged that the assailants carried out aerial surveillance of the community before launching the assault, a tactic he said left residents with little opportunity to escape.
“They used drones to monitor the community before carrying out the attack. They knew where people were and how to operate. That is why we are appealing to the government to strengthen security in our communities,” Dung said.
The victims were identified as Celina James, 38; Yohanna James, 21; Janet Yohanna, 18; Jennifer Yohanna, a three-month-old baby; Sele James, 18; Melody James, 16; Reto James, 10; Endurance James, 8; and Peace James, 3.
Dung warned that unless urgent security measures are implemented, more communities could be deserted as residents flee repeated attacks.
“We do not want this community to become deserted like many others. People want to remain on their ancestral land, but they can only do so if they are safe,” he added.
One of the survivors, Mrs. Kachalom Pam, recounted the terrifying moments the attackers stormed the community, saying she fled into the bush with her children to escape.
According to her, she and the children survived unhurt, but her husband sustained gunshot wounds during the attack and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Reacting to the incident, the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) condemned the killings, describing the massacre as another grim reminder of the persistent violence plaguing Plateau State and the wider North-Central region.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, the association said the latest attack underscored the urgent need for stronger protection of vulnerable communities and accountability for those responsible.
The group called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to dismantle criminal hideouts, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, and provide humanitarian assistance to victims and displaced persons.
It also appealed to the international community, including the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, the European Union, the United States and international human rights organisations, to pay closer attention to the worsening security and humanitarian crisis in North-Central Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Police Command had not issued an official response to the allegation that drones were used during the attack. Efforts to reach the command’s spokesperson, DSP Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful.
