Terrorists stormed the Nding Susut community in Fan District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State late Tuesday night, killing six people, including five members of the same family.
The terrorists’ attack, which occurred around 9 p.m., has heightened concerns over recurring violence in parts of the state.
Residents, including Weng Christopher, who confirmed the incident in Jos on Wednesday, said the terrorists opened fire on unsuspecting villagers.
“Five members of the same family were killed on the spot, while another resident was also shot dead during the attack,” he said, lamenting that such incidents had become frequent.
“This is becoming too frequent. People are living in constant fear,” Christopher added.
The publicity secretary of Berom Youth Moulders, Rwang Tengwong, also confirmed the attack and called for urgent intervention by security agencies.
“The spate of attacks is one too many,” Tengwong noted, urging authorities to intensify efforts to protect lives and property.
He also noted that the gunmen attempted a similar attack on the Rim community in the neighboring Riyom Local Government Area the same night but were repelled by local vigilantes and operatives of Operation Rainbow, the state-owned security outfit.
The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the raid in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Alfred Alabo.
“The command regrets to confirm a deadly attack by yet-to-be-identified gunmen on the Nding Susut community, Fan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, late in the night of May 5, 2026,” the statement read.
According to the Force, the gunmen opened fire on residents who were seated outside their homes, resulting in the death of five persons—four women and a nine-year-old boy—while three others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at a general hospital. The corpses have been deposited at the morgue.
According to the police, personnel led by the Divisional Police Officer in Barkin Ladi were quickly deployed to the situation, and the area has been secured, with normalcy gradually returning.
The Commissioner of Police Bassey Ewah condemned the attack and expressed his sympathy to the affected families and community.
To avert future violence, the CP announced that additional tactical teams, including mobile police units and specialized operatives, had been sent for patrolling, intelligence gathering, and rapid response.
The command also stated that investigations were underway in coordination with other security agencies and community leaders to apprehend the criminals.
Residents were advised to remain calm and submit credible information to assist with ongoing investigations.
