Key points
- Gunmen attacked Kassa at about 1 a.m. on Friday, killing three vigilantes on night patrol, including the community youth leader.
- Protesters shut the Jos-Barkin Ladi-Mangu highway for several hours, stranding travelers, before security personnel restored order.
- The Plateau government called the attack “deeply regrettable and unacceptable” and said security agencies were pursuing the perpetrators.
Women and youths in Kassa community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, blocked the Jos-Barkin Ladi-Mangu highway for several hours on Friday after gunmen killed three local vigilantes, including the community’s youth leader, during a night patrol.
The attackers stormed the community at about 1 a.m. and opened fire on the men, who had been guarding residents while they slept.
Resident John Dung said the three had been the community’s main line of defense at night. “They have been the ones helping us to keep watch at night,” he said.
The killings tipped long-simmering frustration into protest. By morning, women and youths had barricaded the highway, disrupting traffic and stranding travelers on one of the state’s busiest routes.
Security personnel were later deployed to reopen the road and prevent further escalation.
“If they cannot protect us, they should leave”
Protesters directed much of their anger at the security agencies stationed nearby.
Esther Pam, one of the women on the road, said residents were tired of watching their people die while operatives “just sit and do nothing.”
She demanded that security forces pursue the attackers. “If they cannot protect us, they should leave our community,” she said.
Rwang Tengwong, national publicity secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, confirmed the incident and called it disturbing.
The victims died defending their community, he said, and their deaths have deepened fear among residents.
Consequently, he urged security agencies to identify and arrest the perpetrators and asked the government to strengthen protection across Barkin Ladi and other vulnerable areas.
Part of a wider pattern
The Kassa attack adds to a string of recent violence across Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Mangu, Bokkos and Riyom local government areas.
On March 29, during the Palm Sunday period, gunmen struck communities in Bassa and Barkin Ladi, killing several residents and displacing others. The attacks later drew a condolence visit from former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
Repeated raids in Gashish and neighboring communities have also driven residents from their homes. Earlier in the week, the Plateau State House of Assembly called for emergency security intervention and full occupation of the Mobile Police barracks in Gashish.
Meanwhile, the state government condemned the Kassa attack as “deeply regrettable and unacceptable.”
In a statement, Commissioner for Information Joyce Ramnap said security agencies were taking steps to apprehend those responsible and commiserated with the victims’ families.
However, the government also urged residents not to block the highway, warning that such action could endanger travelers.
It said the road was clear and open, and that Gov. Caleb Mutfwang’s administration remained committed to working with security agencies and communities to sustain peace.
