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Governor Mutfwang Visits Grieving Communities in Riyom, Condemns Plateau Killings as Genocide
Jos – Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has visited communities in Riyom Local Government Area recently devastated by violent attacks, describing the killings as acts of terrorism and “genocide, plain and simple.”
Speaking during an emotional visit to Tahoss village and other hard-hit areas in the Bachit District—including Gwong, Fang, Keng, and Rachi—the Governor offered condolences to survivors and vowed to pursue justice at the highest levels.
“Let me promise you, by the grace of God, Riyom will not fall,” Mutfwang declared. “This is genocide, plain and simple. We will escalate this matter to the highest levels and deploy every resource available to end this bloodshed.”
Tahoss was the scene of a deadly attack on Tuesday that left several people dead, many injured, and numerous homes—including a place of worship—burnt to the ground. The attackers also looted food and valuables, leaving residents traumatized and displaced.
Addressing the grief-stricken community, Governor Mutfwang rejected the narrative of the killings being part of a farmer-herder clash, asserting instead that the violence bore all the marks of coordinated terror. He praised security personnel who have shown commitment but did not shy away from criticizing lapses in the system.
“These attackers are not spirits. Real people carried out these atrocities and disappeared,” he said. “We cannot continue to ignore this. Sector Commander, I ask you directly: why were no arrests made this time? Yet young men are detained over unrelated cases. If you lack evidence, release them immediately.”
Governor Mutfwang also called for a total overhaul of the security architecture in the state, stressing that the era of labeling criminals as “unknown gunmen” must end.
“I want to hear of arrests, not excuses. The era of impunity is over. These killers must be brought to justice. Our security operatives must understand they are not peacekeepers; they are defenders of lives and property,” he charged.
In his address to residents and local youth, the Governor encouraged continued vigilance, calm, and resilience. He assured them of government support and relief for displaced families.
“To our youths and elders, we see your resilience. We thank you. You will not be abandoned. This land is yours, and nobody will drive you from it,” he stated.
During the visit, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Riyom LGA, Rev. Davou Musa, raised serious concerns over the conduct of some military personnel, alleging collusion with the attackers. He called on the Federal Government to withdraw the current military deployment and urgently provide humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
Governor Mutfwang reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting all communities across Plateau and called for coordinated action from both federal authorities and local stakeholders to ensure lasting peace.
Africa’s representatives endured another difficult day at the 12th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, with Benin Republic and Tanzania suffering heavy defeats that have raised fresh concerns about the continent’s performance on the global stage.
Sports247 reports that Benin Republic, making their debut at the tournament, were brutally exposed by Argentina in Group A, suffering an 8-0 defeat, while Tanzania’s Twiga Stars were thrashed 5-1 by England in Group B.
The results underline the challenging gap African teams continue to face against some of the world’s established women’s football nations, with the continent struggling to make the desired impact in the early stages of the competition.
Tanzania’s defeat was particularly painful as Nigeria-born Princess Ademiluyi helped England establish early control. The youngster opened the scoring in the ninth minute after connecting with Lia Vivienne, who later provided the assist for Jessie Gale to score England’s fifth goal.
The Young Lionesses, bronze medallists in 2018 and appearing at the tournament for the fifth time, dominated large periods of the encounter.
Rachel Maltby was the standout performer, scoring a hat-trick, with all three goals coming from the penalty spot. She converted in the 15th minute after Lidya Vivienne was penalised, before scoring again in the 43rd minute after Elizabeth Mutimi conceded another penalty.
Mutimi was penalised again two minutes later, allowing Maltby to complete her hat-trick and further compound Tanzania’s misery.
Jamila Mnuduka scored Tanzania’s only goal in the 65th minute, but was forced off with an injury three minutes later.
Tanzania’s defeat leaves them facing a difficult final group match against Canada, while England will meet Brazil in the group’s headline fixture. Brazil currently lead Group B with six points after a 3-0 victory over Canada, with England on four points.
In Group A, Benin’s 8-0 humiliation against Argentina leaves the debutants with just one point and a daunting final encounter against hosts Poland, who defeated Mexico 2-1 and lead the group with six points, Sports247 gathered.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Black Princesses are also under pressure in Group C after losing 3-0 to Ecuador in their opening fixture. Ghana will face Korea in their next outing.
With several African representatives already struggling, the continent will need a significant turnaround in fortunes to avoid another disappointing showing at the global youth tournament. The remaining group matches now carry enormous importance for Africa’s hopes of progressing deeper into the competition.
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