At least three residents of the Kwi community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State were killed in violent attacks on Thursday, January 31, 2026, residents told journalists, deepening fears in a region long beset by insecurity.
The shootings occurred amid rising tensions and continued assaults on rural communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Witnesses said gunmen stormed the community in the early hours, opening fire on several homes and leaving victims dead before fleeing into nearby bushes. One resident, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said the attackers “came suddenly” and “did not spare anyone they saw,” describing the violence as “heartless and unprovoked.”
The killings mark the latest in a string of deadly assaults across Plateau State, where ethnic and communal clashes have claimed many lives and displaced thousands in recent years. Local vigilante groups and security sources say instability has worsened as armed groups exploit gaps in rural security and movement control.
State authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the attack, but community leaders are calling for increased protection. A youth leader from Riyom said residents are “terrified and helpless,” warning that without urgent government intervention, such violence could displace more families from their ancestral lands.