Fear has gripped the Bunyun community in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State following a violent attack by armed men, who abducted two palace officials and set several houses ablaze.
The attack, which took place around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, forced residents to flee en masse to nearby communities, including Bashar, as fear and uncertainty spread across the area.
According to the community’s traditional ruler, Abdulbari’u Muhammad, the attackers stormed the village on motorcycles, looting food items, clothing, and motorcycles before setting homes on fire. Among those abducted were two of his palace aides, Waziri and Wakili, the latter being his younger brother.
“We are completely confused and don’t know what to do, which is why we fled to Bashar,” the traditional ruler lamented. “Everybody has left because people are afraid to remain in the area.”
Residents say the violence may be connected to a recent clash between local vigilantes and suspected bandits, which left several vigilantes dead and multiple houses destroyed.
One of the displaced residents, Abubakar Zubairu, said the entire community was deserted by Thursday morning in the aftermath of the assault. “Everyone is leaving. There’s no one left in the village right now,” he said.
Muhammad appealed to the government for immediate deployment of security forces to the area to allow displaced residents to return and tend to their farmlands. “Our crops have been planted, and we are deeply worried. We need security so we can go back to our farms and secure our livelihoods,” he pleaded.
As of press time, security agencies including Operation Safe Haven and the Plateau State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The latest attack underscores the growing insecurity in parts of Plateau State and raises fresh concerns over the safety of rural communities amid ongoing efforts to restore peace.
