By Palang Paul
At least two young men were killed in an attack on Rim community, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State Nigeria’s Middle Belt, on Tuesday night of September 2, 2026, residents said.
The killings occurred eight days after the community buried three people reportedly killed in an earlier attack on August 25, deepening fears over the security of residents in the area.
According to multiple community sources, the latest attack was preceded by the sighting of a drone hovering over the community shortly before armed men reportedly invaded the area.
Witnesses said the attackers, whom residents identified as suspected Fulani militia, shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the assault before killing the two young men and fleeing the community.
“The drone came first to monitor us, then they came shouting Allahu Akbar and killed our boys,” a resident said.
The circumstances surrounding the drone sighting have raised concerns among residents, particularly because the attack reportedly occurred close to a Nigerian Army outpost.
Community Accuses Army
Community leaders have accused the Nigerian soldiers stationed near the area of failing to respond adequately to the attack, alleging that the proximity of the military position to the scene raises questions about how the assailants were able to operate and escape.
“There is a clear compromise on the part of the Nigerian Army. They have a hand in these killings. How can people be killed so close to their outpost and they claim they did not see or hear anything, even with a drone flying?” a community elder alleged.
The allegation of military complicity could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.
There was also no immediate official response from the Nigerian Army or Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) addressing the reported drone sighting, the killings, or the community’s allegations.
The incident has renewed concerns about the effectiveness of security deployments in parts of Riyom, where farming communities have continued to face insecurity and attacks.
Residents are now calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings, including the reported drone activity and the conduct of security personnel stationed near the community.
They are also demanding urgent reinforcement and sustained security protection for Rim and surrounding communities.
For families of the victims, the latest killings have added to the grief left by the August 25 attack, as the community once again confronts the loss of young lives and renewed fears over its security.
The community is urging the relevant authorities to establish the facts surrounding the attack, identify those responsible and take measures to prevent further bloodshed.
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