At least 14 people lost their lives, and one person was injured in a nighttime assault on Gidan Ado, a village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Irigwe Community Development Association (IDA) National Publicity Secretary, Sam Jugo, confirmed the tragic incident to journalists.
According to Jugo, the attack was reported to Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a multi-agency security task force tasked with maintaining peace in the region.
He added that troops from the task force had been deployed to the scene.
As of press time, Major Samson Zhakom, the spokesperson for OPSH, and DSP Alabo Alfred, the Plateau State Police Command spokesperson, had not responded to inquiries regarding the attack.
The incident occurred just two days after the Plateau State Police Command increased security deployments across five local government areas, including Riyom, to ensure safety during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Jugo revealed that the victims were members of the Irigwe ethnic group from Bassa Local Government Area.
He also provided the names of the deceased, which included men, women, and children, the youngest being just one year old.
“One survivor, Linda Moses, aged 32, sustained severe injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed facility,” Jugo said.
He urged restraint among community members and expressed hope that security agencies would work to prevent further violence or reprisals.
“Our hearts bleed for the loss of our kinsmen, whom we hoped to celebrate the yuletide with, but their lives were tragically cut short,” he lamented.
The identities of the attackers remain unknown, and investigations are ongoing.