Plateau State Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 10 Following Fresh Attack in Barkin Ladi

 

​The security situation in the Middle Belt has taken a somber turn as the death toll from the recent attack on the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State has officially risen to ten. Local authorities and community leaders confirmed on Monday, February 23, 2026, that additional bodies were recovered from the surrounding bushes following a weekend of violence that has once again displaced hundreds of villagers. This latest surge in bloodshed underscores the fragile peace in the region and puts renewed pressure on the federal and state governments to find a lasting solution to the perennial farmer-herder conflicts and ethno-religious tensions that have plagued the "Home of Peace and Tourism."

​The Details of the Barkin Ladi Incursion

​The attack, which reportedly began in the late hours of Saturday, targeted several hamlets within the Barkin Ladi axis. Eyewitnesses described a coordinated assault by armed men who moved through the communities with sophisticated weaponry. While initial reports suggested a lower casualty count, the Plateau State Police Command and representatives of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) confirmed that more victims succumbed to their injuries or were found during search-and-rescue operations conducted by local vigilantes and security agencies.

​Among the deceased are women and children, a factor that has sparked widespread condemnation from civil society organizations. The attackers also reportedly set fire to several granaries and residential buildings, destroying the livelihoods of families who were already struggling with the economic hardships of the current season. This "scorched earth" tactic is a recurring theme in Plateau attacks, designed not just to inflict casualties but to force the permanent displacement of indigenous populations.

​Operation Safe Haven and the Security Response

​In response to the escalating violence, the multi-agency special task force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), has increased its footprint in Barkin Ladi and neighboring Mangu and Bokkos LGAs. The military has deployed additional motorized patrols and aerial surveillance to track the movement of the insurgents, who are believed to have retreated into the rugged terrain of the hills bordering the state.

​However, community leaders have expressed mixed feelings regarding the military's response time. While the presence of the tactical teams has prevented further incursions in the last 24 hours, there are urgent calls for a permanent "buffer zone" and the establishment of forward operating bases in the most vulnerable rural corridors. The Special Task Force has urged residents to remain calm and provide actionable intelligence, emphasizing that "jungle justice" or reprisal attacks will only lead to a cycle of endless violence.

​Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s "Zero Tolerance" Stance

​Governor Caleb Mutfwang has condemned the killings in the strongest terms, describing them as an "affront to the collective peace of the Plateau people." The Governor, who has made security a cornerstone of his administration, directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to immediately provide relief materials to the survivors currently taking refuge in primary schools and community halls.

​The administration is also reportedly working on a new legislative framework to empower the Plateau State Security Trust Fund, aiming to better equip local hunters and vigilante groups who often serve as the first line of defense. The Governor’s office has called on the Presidency to fast-track the deployment of the promised "State Police" structure, arguing that the centralized security apparatus is often too slow to react to the guerrilla-style tactics used in these rural massacres.

​The Humanitarian Crisis: A Growing Burden

​Beyond the immediate loss of ten lives, the Barkin Ladi attack has created a fresh humanitarian crisis. With over 20 houses razed and hundreds of farmers afraid to return to their fields, the risk of food insecurity in the region is mounting. Plateau State is a major supplier of Irish potatoes, maize, and vegetables to the rest of Nigeria; continued instability in Barkin Ladi threatens the supply chain of these essential commodities.

​Community leaders are calling on international aid organizations to intervene, particularly in providing medical supplies for the survivors who sustained gunshot and machete wounds. There is also a desperate need for trauma counseling for the children who witnessed the horrific events of the weekend.

​The Path to Lasting Peace

​Analysts suggest that until the root causes of the conflict—land ownership rights, grazing routes, and historical grievances—are addressed through a high-level judicial commission of inquiry, the peace in Plateau will remain "the peace of the graveyard." The rise of the death toll to ten is a grim reminder that the current security strategies are merely reactive.

​As the state mourns its latest victims, the eyes of the nation are on the security agencies to see if they can move from "containing" the violence to "preventing" it. For the people of Barkin Ladi, the hope is that this latest tragedy will be the last, and that the "Home of Peace and Tourism" can finally live up to its name once more.