A survivor of last Saturday’s deadly attack on Kum village in the Rim District of Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State, has shared a heartbreaking account of the incident that claimed the lives of nine members of his extended family.
The survivor, James Yohanna, one of only three people who made it out alive, described the attack as terrifying and unforgettable. Speaking to journalists on Friday, he said the assailants specifically targeted his home, killing several of his loved ones, including his wife, son, four-year-old daughter, and two-month-old granddaughter.
Yohanna said he narrowly escaped death during the invasion, adding that the attackers communicated in Fulfulde, the language commonly spoken by the Fulani ethnic group. According to him, the gunmen appeared to have deliberately singled out his household because of his family ties to the Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) for Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo.
Recounting the horrifying experience, Yohanna revealed that the attackers stormed his residence and demanded to know the whereabouts of the head of the family before opening fire on those inside. He said the incident unfolded within moments, leaving behind death, destruction, and deep emotional scars.
Recalling the horrendous ordeal, Yohanna said:
“At about 11:30 p.m., I was in my room. Then I heard dogs barking uncontrollably, and the next thing I heard was boots tramping. After a while, I heard loud bangs at my brother’s door, and soon after, I heard my brother scream.
“It turned out they were trying to break into the house, but he ran outside. They shot him in the arm and leg. However, he managed to hide before the person chasing him could get close.
“Then, after about 30 minutes, I heard the dogs barking again, and then the sounds of boots again. Then I heard gunshots at my son’s door, followed by the sound of the door being kicked open. I heard my son saying, ‘Please don’t harm us.’
“But a male voice with a Fulani accent said in Hausa, ‘today you will learn a hard lesson’ after demanding the ‘father of the house.’ When my son failed to answer, they shot him, shot his wife, and shot his two-month-old baby.
“At that point, I threw my six-year-old daughter through the window and followed, running aimlessly into the bush as one attacker fired several shots at me.
“When he lost me, he went back into the house, and I tried to crawl back, but before I got 20 meters close, they went to the next room where my six daughters were sleeping, and I heard automatic gunfire everywhere, followed by silence.
“Then they started marching out of the house. One of my daughters, a four-year-old who was apparently terrified, screamed, and one of the attackers marched back and shot her.
“By the time soldiers arrived, and I was able to make it back to the house, my wife, my son, and his wife and two-month-old daughter, and my six daughters lay dead.”
BACKSTORY:
The latest attack on Kum village in the Rim District of Riyom Local Government Area (LGA), Plateau State, is part of a series of violent incidents that have plagued several communities across Plateau in recent years.
For years, communities in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu, and Jos South LGAs have suffered recurring attacks by armed groups, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives, the destruction of homes, and the displacement of thousands of residents. The violence has often been linked to long-standing disputes over land, grazing routes, and communal tensions, although authorities have also described many of the attacks as acts of terrorism and criminality.
The assault on Kum village occurred last Saturday when heavily armed attackers stormed the community, opening fire on residents and leaving several people dead. Among the victims were nine members of a single family, making it one of the deadliest incidents recorded in the area in recent weeks.
Following the attack, security agencies launched investigations while local leaders, religious groups, and community members renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect vulnerable rural communities. The killings also sparked widespread condemnation from residents and civil society organisations, who urged the government to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent further bloodshed.
Speaking after the incident, survivor James Yohanna recounted the traumatic experience, revealing that the attackers allegedly singled out his household, killing his wife, son, daughter, daughter-in-law, two-month-old granddaughter, and other relatives. His account has further highlighted the devastating human cost of the continued violence in Plateau State and intensified demands for urgent action to end the recurring attacks.
