The death toll from the weekend's coordinated attacks on communities in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State has reportedly risen to 15, including a police officer, while six other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries. The attacks, allegedly carried out by gunmen, threw residents of several communities into panic as the assailants reportedly operated simultaneously in different parts of Barkin Ladi town.
Affected areas, according to residents, include Sabon Layi, Rakung, Gangare, and the General Hospital area, popularly known as Zat and Bet. Residents said the attackers stormed the communities on Saturday evening, shooting sporadically and forcing many people to flee their homes for safety.
Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, confirmed the death of three herders to newsmen in Jos. A resident of Barkin Ladi, Livinus Pam, who spoke to newsmen, disclosed that as of yesterday morning, 10 bodies had reportedly been recovered from different locations, with some deposited at the mortuary, while six injured persons were receiving treatment at undisclosed medical facilities. But an indigene of Bassa, Mr Dauda Auta, told The Guardian that five more bodies had been discovered, making them 15 in number.
Additional attacks in Kanam Local Government Area
Besides, gunmen raided Furyam Takzul community in Kantana Ward of Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, yesterday, killing two persons and abducting five others, including women and children. Residents revealed that the attack took place at about 12:05 a.m., leading the villagers to scamper for safety. According to sources, the gunmen stormed the community in large numbers and began shooting sporadically, forcing many residents to abandon their homes.
The latest development followed an earlier attack on the Sabon Layi community, where a woman was reportedly killed, and another resident was injured and rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for medical attention.
Reactions from local groups
Reacting to the attacks, the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYMA), in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, expressed concern over what it described as the worsening security situation in Barkin Ladi despite the heavy presence of security personnel and checkpoints in the area. Efforts to get official reaction from security agencies on the latest development were unsuccessful at press time.
Military successes against insurgents
This comes as the attempt by ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists to gain momentum in the North East zone, with attacks on military locations, was continuously frustrated by battle-ready troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), leading to huge casualties on their part. On Friday, May 8, 2026, troops repelled an ISWAP terrorist attack on Headquarters 27 Brigade at Buni Gari and the Buni Gari Checkpoint in Yobe State, and killed more than 50.
The latest being the midnight failed attack by ISWAP fighters on 120 Task Force Battalion Gonori under Sector 2 between the late hours of Saturday, May 9, 2026 and early morning of Sunday, May 10, 2026. According to the spokesman for OPHK, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, the troops, supported by the Air Component of OPHK and the Nigerian Army Aviation, subsequently completed a well-synchronised air-land assault that decimated the retreating insurgents and sealed their defeat. Uba said exploitation of the general area revealed extensive blood trails, body parts and battle damage consistent with scores of terrorist casualties, in addition to terrorist corpses recovered within the immediate vicinity.
Operations in the North West
In a related development, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) in the North West, supported by the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, successfully cleared terrorist enclaves at Torcachi, Giginya, and Tashar Ganji villages and recovered 175 rustled livestock by terrorists during clearance operations in Matazu, Musawa, and Kankia Local Government Areas. The Media Information Officer, OPFY, Lt.-Col. Aliyu Danja, said the bandits, who were overwhelmed by the military pressure, abandoned their camps and livestock and fled.
