News

Six killed, three injured as gunmen lay siege on Plateau communities

Published

4 months ago

July 7, 2026

At least six people have been confirmed killed, while three others were injured in separate attacks as gunmen suspected to be Fulani terrorists laid siege on different communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government of Plateau State.

The Berom Youth Moulders-Association, BYM, which confirmed the incidents in a statement on Monday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, said the attacks occurred on Saturday in Ta-Hoss, Riyom, and Sabon Layi, Barkin Ladi, while another attack took place in Kwi district of Riyom in the early hours of Sunday.

Describing the attacks as unprovoked and a continuation of a sustained campaign of terror against Christian communities in the state, particularly in Riyom and Barkin Ladi, Tengwong condemned the continued siege on Berom land by bandits and called on security agencies to rise to their responsibilities and flush the attackers out of the affected areas.

“The Berom Youth Moulders-Association, BYM, under the leadership of Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, strongly condemns the fresh wave of coordinated attacks by armed Fulani terrorists that claimed the lives of six innocent people and left one woman critically injured in separate attacks on Ta-Hoss, Riyom LG, Sabon Layi, Barkin Ladi LG, on Saturday, July 4, 2026, and Kwi, Riyom LG, in the early hours of Sunday, July 5, 2026,” the association said.

Continuing, the BYM said:

“At about 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, armed Fulani terrorists operating from the Bangai axis attacked farmers on their farmland at Rinyan Village in Ta-Hoss Community, Riyom LG.

“The attackers shot dead Hudung Luka, 40, and critically injured Ladi Istifanus, 50. Later that night, terrorists invaded Sabon Layi Community in Barkin Ladi LG and brutally murdered Sunday, 25, Benjamin James, 33, and Godwin Yakubu, 27.

“In the early hours of Sunday, the terrorists struck again, killing Peter Bulus in Kwi Village, Riyom LG.

“These attacks are not isolated incidents but form part of a persistent pattern of violence deliberately targeting innocent civilians, farmers, and rural communities.

“The repeated killings continue to instill fear, displace families, and threaten the livelihoods of the Berom people. BYM is deeply concerned by recent security intelligence reports indicating that armed Fulani terrorists are allegedly camped in different locations across Plateau State to launch coordinated attacks on vulnerable communities.

“This disturbing development calls for immediate intelligence-driven security operations to identify, dismantle, and neutralise these camps before more innocent lives are lost.

“Security agencies must act proactively rather than waiting to respond after attacks have occurred.”

Related Topics:communities gunmen Injured killed lay plateau siege

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'It's fake' – Wike rubbishes Peter Obi's display of modesty

Published

1 hour ago

October 21, 2026

PlateauReports

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi over his claim to modesty.

Wike, who spoke on Tuesday during an engagement with Rivers State youths ahead of the 2027 elections, described Obi’s practice of celebrating birthdays at Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps and buying roasted corn by the roadside as fake.

According to the minister, Obi, who served as governor of Anambra State for eight years, did not demonstrate such modesty while in office.

Wike alleged that Obi’s public display of modesty was part of a political strategy aimed at winning votes in the forthcoming presidential election.

He said, "Make him the president of social media so that he can be going to IDP camps, so that he will be buying corn on the road then you will say oh! Very humble. Humble where?

"It's fake. Who are you going to deceive? When you were a governor, you didn't go to the IDP camp to do your birthday, you didn't go to buy fuel by yourself, all of a sudden, just because you want to be president you are now going. Who are you going to deceive?"

‘It’s fake’ – Wike rubbishes Peter Obi’s display of modesty

News

EFCC Detains Abuja Businessman Over Alleged $120m Fraud

Published

2 hours ago

October 21, 2026

PlateauReports

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained an Abuja businessman for allegedly defrauding a Ukrainian investor of more than 120 million dollars in a scheme purportedly spanning nearly two decades.

EFCC Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, who confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Abuja on Tuesday, said the suspect was arrested in his residence in Abuja on Monday, and has since been in custody.

He however declined further explanation on the development.

Meanwhile a source at the commission conversant with the development, said the suspect was accused of advance fee fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal conversion, obtaining money under false pretence, theft and money laundering.

According to the source, the details of the case show that his arrest follows collaboration with international investigators and information provided by whistle-blowers within his organisation.

“The suspect allegedly obtained millions of dollars from the investor between 2007 and 2015 for mineral exploration and power projects that were never delivered, and the funds allegedly diverted for personal use.

”The commission also uncovered alleged transfers of billions of naira to companies and individuals linked to the suspect including his children.

“His 28-year-old son, controls Battregen Limited, which investigators described as a conduit for laundering funds.

”Between February and April 2025, Battregen reportedly received approximately N1.4 billion in purported loans in spite of recording no revenue.

“In July 2025, a further N953 million was allegedly transferred to the son of which only N90 million was returned.

”Investigators also identified transfers of between N48 million and N50 million to the suspect’s 26-year-old daughter, and a relative and business associate. They reportedly found no legitimate business purpose for the payments.”

The source further said that the EFCC was expanding its investigation and had appealed to members of the public and the businessman’s former associates to provide further information.

The official explained that the case concerned a Ukrainian investor who reportedly lost substantial assets following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

”Investigators alleged that the suspect subsequently entered into dealings with Inter RAO UES, a Russian state-owned enterprise, for mineral exploitation and energy projects.

”The allegations also extend to his earlier business dealings in Ukraine.
In the mid-2000s, the suspect allegedly persuaded two Ukrainian businessmen to finance the privatisation of Jos Steel Rolling Mill in Plateau before taking exclusive control of the facility, stripping it of assets and abandoning hundreds of workers without wages.

”He also allegedly shot and seriously wounded one of his business partners during a confrontation in Ukraine on April 28, 2008, before fleeing to Nigeria.

“The document detailing the allegations says says the suspect had remained in Nigeria in spite of an Interpol red notice,” the source also told NAN.(NAN)

Edited by Deborah Coker