Recent Attacks in Barkin Ladi Heighten Security Concerns
The security landscape in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, took a severe turn for the worse over the weekend as coordinated assaults on multiple communities resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals, including a police officer, with many others injured.
Heavily armed assailants reportedly executed these attacks in regions such as Savon Rai, Lakun, and Gangale, particularly affecting areas around the That and Bet general hospital late Saturday night. In an official statement drafted by National Publicity Secretary Ruwan Tengwong, the Berom Youth Mulder Association (BYM-A) condemned the “persistent security failures,” despite the presence of several checkpoints and law enforcement personnel throughout Barkin Ladi.
As of 1 a.m. on Sunday, the association noted that the deceased had been sent to a mortuary, while six individuals received medical treatment for their injuries. BYM-A reiterated its earlier vote of no confidence in various Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) officials, accusing them of negligence and a failure to safeguard the local population.
“Without a prompt and effective security response, communities remain vulnerable to relentless attacks both day and night,” the statement articulated. Residents are now living in constant fear, struggling against the alarming reality that armed attackers can traverse their neighborhoods unchallenged, thereby terrorizing innocent civilians.
Moreover, the group criticized the Plateau State government for its inadequate humanitarian response to ongoing violence. Given the regularity of assaults and subsequent displacements across both rural and urban settings, the association raised questions about the absence of a dedicated Department of Homeland Security and Humanitarian Assistance in the state.
The group lamented the plight of traumatized residents who often find themselves having to retrieve bodies, frequently using improvised methods such as wrapping them in local cloth and transporting them by hand. The association described this as an affront to human dignity and a serious public health risk.
Experts Warn of Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
Dr. Solomon Chorom, a virologist and president of the Plateau State Association UK (PSA-UK), echoed these sentiments by warning that the region is teetering on the brink of a “spiraling humanitarian crisis” driven by daily violence and widespread displacement.
Chorom pointed out the multifaceted nature of this emerging crisis, which includes loss of life and property, disruptions to agricultural operations, hazardous corpse handling, insufficient trauma care, and a lack of coordinated systems for evacuating and referring the injured to medical facilities.
He voiced concerns about the visibility and effectiveness of the National Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), emphasizing that victims often are left to shoulder the burden of searching for bodies and rescuing survivors without any governmental assistance.
“Considering the frequency of these incidents, it might be time for Plateau State to explore setting up a fully dedicated ministry of homeland security and disaster management,” he stated. Such a ministry could serve as a frontline agency, documenting attacks, managing trauma, conducting professional body evacuations, and coordinating temporary housing for displaced individuals.
Chorom underscored that while the government’s primary responsibility is to halt the killings, if that proves unfeasible, a swift humanitarian response is essential. “Governments should extend social services to provide help and hope to the victims,” he asserted.
The recent attacks add to the long list of violent events that have beset Plateau State in recent years, where locals consistently accuse security agencies of slow or inadequate reactions. Calls for structural reforms, enhanced intelligence gathering, and strengthened regional security cooperation from civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and humanitarian stakeholders are becoming increasingly urgent.
For the time being, residents of Barkin Ladi remain watchful as security forces continue their patrols in the afflicted areas. The Plateau State government has yet to provide a comprehensive response to the latest wave of criticism.
