By Micheal Lalung, Jos

Fresh violence has erupted in Plateau State following the killing of a pastor and the injury of two church members during an attack by armed assailants on Fubok Village in the Daffo District of Bokkos Local Government Area.

The victim, identified simply as Pastor Philibus, was reportedly attacked when gunmen stormed the community on Thursday night, unleashing violence that left residents fleeing for safety.

The incident was disclosed by conflict journalist Masara Kim Usman, who reported that the attackers invaded the village and opened fire on residents, resulting in the death of the cleric and critical injuries to two members of his congregation.

According to him, the latest attack occurred shortly after the assailants allegedly carried out another deadly operation in a neighbouring community, where three residents were reportedly killed.

Masara stated that the armed men launched the assault on Fubok during the late evening hours, spreading fear across the area and worsening concerns over the deteriorating security situation in parts of Plateau State.

In a separate update, he reported that violence had also been recorded in other communities south of Jos, with casualties reported in Daffo, Bokkos Local Government Area, while gunfire was said to be ongoing in Dorowa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

The renewed attacks came despite earlier warnings from community leaders about possible security threats in the affected areas.

Prior to the violence, the President of the Berom Youth-Moulders Association (BYM), Barrister Solomon Mwantiri, had issued a public security alert warning residents and travellers of intelligence reports suggesting an imminent attack around the Dorowa Babuje axis.

He advised motorists and commuters travelling between Jos and Mangu to avoid the route and remain in safe locations until security agencies declared the area secure.

Mwantiri also called on security agencies to urgently deploy personnel to vulnerable communities in order to prevent loss of lives and protect residents from further attacks.

The community leader urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid spreading unverified information and cooperate with security operatives in maintaining peace and order.

The latest killings have once again drawn attention to the persistent security challenges confronting communities in Plateau State, particularly in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas, which have witnessed repeated attacks in recent years.

As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while efforts were reportedly ongoing to restore calm and prevent further violence in the affected communities.