Plateau Under Fire: Renewed Gunmen Assault in Barkin Ladi Leaves Dozens Dead, Sparks Community Outrage!
Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan, Editor‑in‑chief | Sele Media Africa
BARKIN LADI, Plateau State — At least nine residents were killed and several others wounded in a deadly gunmen assault on Ratatis in Dorowa Babuje community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The attack — one in a spate of recent violent incidents in the central Nigerian state — has deepened insecurity and prompted protests demanding justice and heightened protection.
According to local leaders and multiple eyewitness accounts, armed assailants believed to be suspected Fulani militias stormed the Ratatis area around 7:27–8:30 pm and opened fire on residents gathered at a local relaxation spot. Nine people were confirmed dead, while three others sustained serious injuries and were urgently transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment. Efforts to obtain comment from Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful as of press time.
In a separate but related incident, one more person was reported killed in Jol community in neighbouring Riyom Local Government Area, bringing the combined death toll to 10.
The Berom Youth Moulders Association, a community group active in Plateau, confirmed the Dorowa Babuje attack and described the violence as part of repeated assaults on rural settlements that have unsettled the region. Protesters, including youths and women from local communities, blocked the main Jos‑Barkin Ladi highway on Monday, February 23, demanding swift arrest and prosecution of the attackers and more effective security deployment.
One protester lamented persistent insecurity, accusing federal and state authorities of failing to protect vulnerable rural communities despite repeated warnings and distress calls prior to the incident.
Plateau State has long been a flashpoint of inter‑communal violence involving armed herders, farmers and criminal elements, inflamed by disputes over land, grazing routes, and broader ethnic and economic tensions. While specific motives for Sunday’s assault remain under investigation, the pattern of reprisal attacks and retaliatory violence underscores longstanding grievances and mistrust between communities.
Security forces, including troops of Operation Safe Haven, have reportedly intensified patrols across vulnerable corridors in and around Barkin Ladi, Dorowa Babuje, Dong and Lugere villages to forestall further bloodshed and apprehend perpetrators.
The Plateau incidents come amid rising concerns about escalating rural insecurity across central and northern Nigeria, where attacks by armed groups have repeatedly displaced communities and strained relations between ethnic and pastoralist groups.
Sources:
- Punch
- BusinessDay Nigeria
- Daybreak NG
- Independent Newspaper Nigeria
Marian Opeyemi Fasesan is a dynamic journalist and editorial leader committed to excellence in news reporting and storytelling. As the Editor-in-Chief of Sele Media Africa, she ensures daily operations run smoothly while upholding the highest editorial standards. With a strong eye for detail and deep understanding of audience engagement, Marian coordinates content across platforms, guiding teams to produce compelling, timely, and credible news. Her leadership reflects the heart of Sele Media Africa’s mission—to inform, inspire, and elevate voices across the continent.
About The Author
Share this:
Discover more from Sele Media Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
