By Lawrence Zongo
MANGU, Plateau State, Nigeria — Eight Christians were killed and at least 15 others injured when armed men attacked Gwomjang Village in Kadunu Ward of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, on the evening of May 31, according to local community leaders and government officials.
Gwomjang is a predominantly Christian farming community located near Gindiri in central Nigeria’s Plateau State, a region that has experienced recurring violence affecting rural communities over the past several years. The village lies within Mangu Local Government Area, an agricultural region where residents depend largely on farming for their livelihoods. The attack occurred during the rainy season, when many families are preparing their farms for cultivation.
According to Dung Ezekiel Sunday, the youth leader of Gwomjang and an eyewitness to the attack, residents had just concluded church activities and were returning to their homes when gunfire erupted.
“On Sunday evening, after church service and after the women had finished their prayer meeting, people were returning to their homes as it was getting dark,” Sunday said. “At that time, gunshots were heard in the community.”
Sunday said the attack began at approximately 7:30 p.m. Witnesses reported that armed men entered the community and opened fire on residents before fleeing the area.
Local officials confirmed that eight people were killed in the assault, including four women and four men. Fifteen others sustained injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to other trauma suffered while attempting to escape the attack.
The injured were initially taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
“The entire community was thrown into confusion,” Sunday said. “Several other people sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.”
Residents identified the attackers as suspected Fulani gunmen, according to community leaders. Sunday said villagers reported that the assailants approached from the direction of a nearby settlement and retreated through the same route after carrying out the attack.
“We have lived with our neighbours for many years, and in the past we maintained peaceful relations with them,” he said.
According to Sunday, community members immediately contacted security personnel stationed in the area after the attack began.
“We contacted soldiers stationed in Kadunuwa, but they arrived around 10:00 p.m., after the attackers had already left,” he said.
On June 1, officials from the Mangu Local Government Council visited the village to meet with bereaved families and injured survivors.
The delegation was led by Deputy Chairman Yakwen Nuhu Lawal, representing Executive Chairman Emmanuel Bala Mwolpun. Other government appointees accompanied the delegation during the visit to the affected community and medical facilities treating the victims.
During the visit, Lawal met with community leaders, survivors, and relatives of those killed in the attack.
The delegation also inspected the condition of injured victims receiving treatment and received a briefing from medical personnel overseeing their care.
Following consultations with healthcare workers, the local government directed that victims requiring advanced medical attention be transferred to the Jos University Teaching Hospital for specialized treatment.
Officials further announced that the Mangu Local Government Council would cover all medical expenses incurred by survivors injured during the attack.
Community leaders welcomed the intervention and expressed appreciation for the government’s response.
They thanked the council for visiting the village shortly after the incident, meeting directly with affected families, and assuming financial responsibility for the treatment of injured residents.
Speaking during the visit, Lawal encouraged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies operating in the area.
“We must not wait for the government alone to come to our rescue,” he said. “Report any suspicious movement or activity to security agencies immediately so that prompt action can be taken.”
The attack was also addressed during a mass burial ceremony held for the victims.
According to Lawal, the violence extended beyond Gwomjang Village and affected other communities in the area on the same day.
“Today, I witnessed the mass burial of eight Christians who were killed in Gwomjang Village,” he said. “As we gathered for the burial, we mourned not these eight victims but also three others who lost their lives in related attacks. These attacks occurred simultaneously in two different villages.”
Lawal called on community members, particularly young people, to support local efforts aimed at improving security and information sharing.
“One of the challenges we face is that after attacks occur, no one can clearly tell us where the attackers came from or the routes they used,” he said. “We need greater vigilance, better information sharing, and stronger community cooperation to improve security.”
He also urged residents to remain steadfast in their faith amid ongoing insecurity.
“As believers in Jesus Christ, we know that persecution may come and that difficult times may arise,” Lawal said. “We must remain steadfast in faith.”
Community members are now appealing for stronger security measures to protect villages across the region.
Sunday said residents want authorities to ensure that investigations into attacks are carried through to completion and that those responsible are brought to justice.
“We are calling on the government to take decisive action to stop these attacks,” he said. “Many times, after such incidents, we hear reports that suspects have been arrested, but later we do not hear what becomes of those cases.”
He also appealed for support from both Nigerian authorities and the international community.
“We are appealing for assistance from the Nigerian government and the international community so that our people can be protected and our communities can live in peace and security,” Sunday said.
The killings in Gwomjang occurred during a period when several communities in Plateau State have reported renewed security concerns. Mangu Local Government Area has experienced repeated attacks, displacement of residents, and destruction of property in recent years, prompting calls from local leaders, churches, and civil society organizations for improved protection of vulnerable rural communities.
As families buried their loved ones and survivors continued receiving treatment, residents of Gwomjang returned to a community marked by fresh graves, damaged livelihoods, and ongoing concerns about security as the farming season began.
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