Plateau State was plunged into grief on Friday as 27 victims of a recent massacre in Riyom Local Government Area were laid to rest in a mass burial.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The sombre ceremony drew mourners from far and wide—bereaved families, friends, and government officials—all united by sorrow.

The deceased, mostly farmers from Bindi-Jebbu community, were brutally killed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia during an early-morning invasion on July 15, 2025.

Heart‑rending cries filled the burial ground, Saturday PUNCH observed, as loved ones mourned fathers, mothers, children, and neighbours whose lives were cut short.

Speaking at the ceremony, Riyom LG Chairman, Mr. Bature Shuwa, condemned the relentless assaults on rural communities, calling the killings “senseless and cruel.”

“People of Bindi-Jebbu and the entire Riyom,” he said, voice heavy with emotion, “we gather here in unspeakable grief, mourning 27 precious souls taken in a cruel and senseless act of violence. As your Chairman, I stand with you not only in leadership but in mourning. Your pain is ours; your loss, a wound in the heart of Riyom.”

Shuwa described the dead as more than statistics—“they were fathers, mothers, children, farmers, neighbours, and friends whose memories must fuel our pursuit of justice, peace, and security. We will not forget, we will not be silent, and we will not rest until our communities are safe.”

Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured the grieving state that President Bola Tinubu remains committed to ending the killings and restoring lasting peace.

Akpabio gave this assurance during the funeral of Professor Janet Plang, wife of Senator Diket Plang, at the Church of Christ in Nations headquarters in Jos.

Responding to Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s appeal for urgent federal intervention, Akpabio pledged that the Senate would work with security agencies to stop the bloodshed.

“As Senate President, I hear you loud and clear,” he said. “The Egyptians you see today, you shall see them no more. On behalf of my colleagues, I condole with the government and people of Plateau State over these needless losses. Your message will be delivered to President Bola Tinubu, and urgent steps will be taken to protect lives and property.”

Paying tribute to the late Professor Plang, Akpabio described her as “a quintessential woman and mother devoted to humanity,” praying for strength for her family and all who mourn her passing.