Tragedy struck the quiet village of Gako in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night when armed attackers invaded homes, killing Reverend Ayuba Choji, his wife Chundung, and their two young children, Cyril and Endurance.
The assailants struck around 11 p.m. on April 26, unleashing gunfire on residential compounds and sending panicked villagers fleeing into the surrounding bushes under the cover of darkness. According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen specifically targeted the pastor’s residence, resulting in the deaths of the entire family.
Reports indicate the attackers also made off with the pastor’s motorcycle before retreating into the night.Rev. Ayuba Choji was a dedicated pastor serving with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in the Bukuru District Church Council.
His brutal murder, alongside his wife and innocent children, has left the local Christian community in mourning and deep shock.Residents described the attack as part of an escalating wave of violence that has plagued Gako and neighboring communities in recent weeks. Attackers have reportedly operated in coordinated groups, with some focusing on homes while others destroy farmlands planted with maize, cabbage, and peppers.
The relentless assaults have forced many families to abandon their homes at night and created severe challenges for food production in the area.The incident highlights the ongoing insecurity in Plateau State’s Middle Belt region, where rural villages—often home to indigenous farming communities—face repeated raids.
These attacks frequently involve killings, arson, and the destruction of livelihoods, exacerbating displacement and fear among residents.Local youth leaders and community members have expressed frustration over the persistent failure to provide adequate security in remote areas.
Many villagers now live in constant dread, unable to sleep peacefully or tend to their farms without fear of sudden violence.No group has claimed responsibility for the killings. Security agencies are expected to investigate the incident, though past attacks in the region have often resulted in limited accountability and continued cycles of bloodshed.
This latest tragedy adds to the long list of violent incidents affecting Plateau State, where competition over land and resources, combined with ethnic and religious tensions, has claimed numerous lives in recent years. Christian leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about targeted violence against pastors, churches, and farming settlements.
As the community prepares to lay the pastor and his family to rest, residents are calling for urgent government intervention, including the deployment of additional security forces and concrete measures to end the impunity enjoyed by armed groups operating in the area.The brutal slaying of an entire family—including young children—in their home has once again exposed the vulnerability of rural communities in Nigeria’s troubled Middle Belt.
