A quiet community in Plateau State has been thrown into mourning after a late-night assault left a family of four dead in Gako village, Rim Ward, Riyom Local Government Area.
The victims, identified as Rev. Ayuba Choji of the Evangelical Church Winning All, his wife Chundung, and their two children, Cyril and Endurance, were reportedly killed when armed men invaded the area on Sunday night.
Residents said the attackers arrived around 11 p.m., shooting intermittently and forcing villagers to flee into nearby bushes for safety. Many described the incident as yet another episode in a string of violent raids that have unsettled communities across the area.
A local resident, Martha Dalyop, said fear has become a daily reality, with many unable to sleep in their homes or tend to their farms due to repeated attacks.
Community leaders also raised concerns about the pattern of the assaults. Rwang Tengwong, publicity secretary of the Berom Youths Moulder Association, noted that the attackers often operate in coordinated groups—some targeting residents while others destroy crops or block escape routes.
He added that within the last 48 hours, farmlands in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, including maize, cabbage, and pepper plantations, have been heavily damaged, further deepening food shortages in affected communities.