Residents of Riyom Local Government Area were thrown into panic on Sunday night after gunmen attacked Gako Village, killing a pastor and three members of his family.
The victims were identified as Rev. Ayuba Choji, his wife, Chundung Ayuba, and their children, Cyril and Endurance Ayuba.
Sources said the assailants stormed the community at about 11 p.m., firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee their homes.
A resident, Martha Dalyop, said the attackers invaded the village under the cover of darkness, shooting sporadically and causing widespread fear among inhabitants.
She lamented that persistent attacks in the area had left many residents living in constant fear, with some unable to sleep in their homes or access their farmlands.
Confirming the incident, the Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youths Moulder Association, Rwang Tengwong, said the pattern of attacks indicated that the assailants were increasingly targeting vulnerable rural communities.
He added that the attackers often operate in coordinated groups, with some engaging residents, others destroying farmlands, and another group mounting surveillance or blocking escape routes.
Tengwong further disclosed that within the past 48 hours, large portions of farmland had been destroyed in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, including crops such as cabbage, pepper and maize.
The latest attack has heightened tension in the area, with residents calling for urgent intervention by security agencies to curb the recurring violence.
