Plateau community conducts mass burial for 30 indigenes killed in Kwara
Riyom Local Government Area Holds Mass Burial for Victims of February Terror Attack
GANAWURI, Plateau State — The Aten community in the Ganawuri District of the Riyom Local Government Area held a mass burial on Friday for 30 residents killed in a terrorist attack on February 3, 2026. The attack took place in the Woro community of the Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara State.
The Deputy Chairman of the Riyom Local Government Council, Gwong Song, confirmed on February 17 that more than 30 residents were pronounced dead following the terrorist assault. He stated that over 500 council members, who traveled to Kwara State for agricultural and commercial activities, were displaced in the attack. Song assured that the local council, in partnership with the Plateau State government, was facilitating the return of the deceased for proper burial.
The mass burial and memorial service, organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Aten Development Association (ADA), took place at the EKAN Primary School in Ganawuri. The event drew government officials, traditional leaders, religious figures, and grieving families, fostering a solemn atmosphere marked by prayers, reflections, and appeals for peace.
In a message of condolence, Plateau State Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, representing Governor Caleb Mutfwang, characterized the deaths, which included youth, women, and children, as a tragic loss for both the Aten community and the broader Plateau State. Piyo pledged continued support from the state government for the affected families during their mourning period.
State Commissioner for Education Kachollom Gang expressed her sympathies to survivors and announced that trauma care services would be provided for returnees. She highlighted that many victims of the attack remained unaccounted for, while others were still returning home.
HRH Yakubu Chaimang, the Ata’a Aten of Ganawuri and President of the Riyom Traditional Council, expressed profound sorrow over the incident. He emphasized the heavy impact on families and the community, urging government action to ensure justice for the grieving families and victims.
Bature Sati Shuwa, the Executive Chairman of Riyom LGA, described the killings as “gruesome and heartbreaking,” underscoring that the loss transcends the Ganawuri District. “We share in your grief. The loss is enormous, but we must not allow darkness to overcome our unity and resilience,” he stated, reaffirming his commitment to the safety and welfare of residents.
