Plateau Communities Mourn As Bandits Launch Deadly Night Attacks, Pastor Cries Out Over Widespread Destruction

 

A chilling wave of violence has once again swept through Plateau State, leaving dozens dead, homes destroyed, and survivors traumatized. A pastor serving as a missionary in Bwai district of Mangu Local Government Area has raised an emotional alarm after coordinated attacks by armed men believed to be Fulani militants left multiple communities in ruins.

The distraught clergyman, who spoke in a video circulating widely on social media, described the assault as one of the most devastating tragedies he has ever witnessed. His trembling voice echoed the horror of villagers who now find themselves displaced, grieving, and uncertain of what tomorrow might bring.

According to his account, the attackers stormed several communities under the Bwai district late at night. They arrived in large numbers, armed with sophisticated weapons, and opened fire on residents while setting houses ablaze. The missionary revealed that no one was spared, as men, women, and children were mercilessly gunned down while trying to flee.

“We were under siege,” the pastor said sorrowfully. “They came in hundreds, shooting from every direction. I saw families wiped out completely, and children crying beside the bodies of their parents. Everything we worked for has been destroyed. Our food stores, grains, and homes have all been burned.”

He recounted that the worst hit was a village called Kubat, where about 30 people were killed in a single night. Nearby communities such as Murish and Jwak also suffered similar assaults, leaving behind charred ruins and mass graves. The missionary revealed that he and his team narrowly escaped death while attempting to visit one of the affected villages.

“When we were on our way to Kubat, the militants ambushed us. They shot repeatedly, and we had to crawl on the ground to avoid being hit. Only God saved us,” he explained.

The following morning, survivors conducted a mass burial for 29 victims in Fungzai village. The grief was unbearable, yet before they could proceed to Kubwai for another burial, security personnel warned them to halt their movement due to intelligence reports that the attackers were still lurking nearby.

Residents who survived the onslaught have begun fleeing the area, leaving behind their ancestral homes and possessions. Many have sought refuge in neighboring communities or churches, where they are now calling for urgent help from the government and humanitarian agencies.

Eyewitnesses described the attack as well organized and strategically executed. The bandits reportedly surrounded the villages before advancing, cutting off escape routes and ensuring maximum destruction. Witnesses said the assailants continued shooting even as security forces arrived, engaging them in heavy gunfire through the night.

The pastor lamented the slow and limited response of security forces, saying that despite military presence, the attackers operated with disturbing confidence. “The attackers were not in a hurry. They came to destroy everything. Even when the military engaged them, they continued shooting. It is clear that this was not a random attack. It was well coordinated and planned long before it happened,” he said.

Survivors now live in constant fear, unsure if or when the bandits will return. Many described losing entire families, with some still searching for missing relatives amid the ashes of their former homes. The emotional toll has been immense, as communities that once thrived on farming and peaceful coexistence now lie deserted.

The clergyman called on the Plateau State Government, the federal authorities, and security agencies to act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed. He appealed for humanitarian aid for displaced persons, stressing that many have lost everything and have nowhere to go. “Our people need help. They need shelter, food, and protection. The situation is unbearable,” he cried out.

Community leaders across Mangu Local Government Area have joined in condemning the attacks, describing them as an assault on humanity. They urged the government to deploy more troops and intensify surveillance to restore peace to the region.

The attacks in Bwai district add to the growing list of violent incidents that have plagued Plateau State in recent years. Despite repeated assurances from security agencies, many residents say they still live at the mercy of armed groups that continue to terrorize rural communities.

As the smoke clears from the latest assault, the haunting cries of the victims echo across Plateau’s hills and valleys. Families are left mourning their loved ones, and a once peaceful region now wrestles with grief, fear, and uncertainty about its future.