A delegation from the Plateau State House of Assembly visited a rural community in central Nigeria on Tuesday, days after a deadly attack left residents reeling. The team, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil, traveled to Jebbu Binde village in Riyom Local Government Area to assess damage and meet with survivors following an assault by armed groups late Monday night. Local officials attributed the violence to Fulani militia, part of a pattern of escalating intercommunal tensions in the region.
Gapyil described the visit as both a fact-finding mission and an effort to show solidarity with affected families. “We came to offer condolences and see firsthand the extent of this tragedy,” he told journalists, expressing shock at the scale of destruction in the farming community. The Speaker pledged strengthened collaboration between lawmakers and Plateau State’s executive branch to curb recurrent violence, calling the killings of civilians “unacceptable and heartbreaking.”
A statement from the legislative assembly detailed how visiting officials, including former Senate Minority Leader Simon Mwadkwon and ex-Riyom Council Chairman Mafeng Gwalson, toured scorched homes and farmland. Gapyil condemned the recurring attacks as systemic failures, vowing to pursue accountability through joint efforts with security agencies. Witnesses reported extensive property damage, though exact casualty figures remain unconfirmed.
The incident spotlights persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s north-central region, where competition over resources and interethnic disputes frequently escalate into violence. Plateau State—a religiously diverse agricultural hub—has seen multiple clashes this year, with communities accusing federal authorities of insufficient protection. While regional lawmakers recently proposed expanded security measures, critics argue customary conflict-resolution approaches are needed alongside military interventions.
Local leaders urged immediate humanitarian support for displaced families during the delegation’s visit, emphasizing reconstruction needs and food shortages. Gapyil acknowledged these concerns, saying legislative action would prioritize both justice and recovery programs. “We cannot allow fear to displace hope,” he stated, though residents highlighted the strain of repeated displacements on traditional livelihoods.
National security analysts note that resolving such crises requires addressing root causes, including land rights disputes and illegal arms proliferation. The Plateau assembly’s pledge to strengthen interagency coordination aligns with broader calls for localized peacebuilding strategies. As dusk settled over Jebbu Binde, the delegation departed with promises of tighter safeguards—a vow villagers hope will finally halt the cycle of loss haunting their homeland.
