by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Government says it received with deep shock and profound sadness reports of a violent attack on Ratatis (Dorowa Babuje) in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of the State, which occurred on Sunday, 22nd February, 2026, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives.
The State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Joyce Ramnap, while disclosing this in a signed contract and issued to newsmen in Jos, stressed thus: “The government strongly condemns this barbaric and senseless act. This unfortunate incident comes at a time when sustained investments in dialogue, reconciliation, and community engagement have significantly improved the relative peace currently being enjoyed across the state.”
According to the statement, those who sustained injuries are presently receiving medical attention at nearby health facilities, while government is closely monitoring their condition and ensuring that they receive the necessary care.
However, a joint search-and-rescue team comprising security operatives and relevant government officials has been constituted to assist victims, account for missing persons, and stabilize the affected community.
The State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has condemned the attack in its entirety and expressed heartfelt condolences to the families, who lost their loved ones, and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.
The governor has directed security agencies to immediately intensify operations in the affected area, strengthen security presence in surrounding communities, and ensure that those responsible for this cowardly act are apprehended and brought to justice.
Residents are being urged to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding, while cooperating fully with security agencies by providing credible information that may assist ongoing investigations.
The Government further reassures all citizens of its unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property throughout the state. Additional proactive measures are being reinforced to prevent further security breaches and to sustain peace, stability, and harmony across Plateau State.
Also, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) President, Rev. Dr. Job Ayuba Baggat, has equally condemned the attack at Ratatis and Nzharivo communities, and calls for government’s urgent Intervention.
The ECWA President strongly condemned the recent coordinated attacks on peaceful residents in the Ratatis community of Dorowa Babuje District, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, where 10 people were killed and in Nzharivo Miango in Bassa Local Government Area where one Abbas Musa was also killed, and other coordinated attacks in some parts of the country, describing the incidents as a “brutal assault on innocent people and humanity in general.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday from the ECWA Headquarters, in Jos, Rev. Dr. Baggat expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and the burning of property during the attacks, which occurred over the weekend.
Reports from the affected communities indicate that gunmen stormed Ratatis Village on Sunday night, killing several farmers and residents and injuring others, while separate violence was reported in the Miango area of Bassa.
“We are profoundly saddened by the loss of precious lives in Dorowa Babuje and Nzharivo. These coordinated attacks are not just an assault on the individuals and families affected; they are a direct assault on the sanctity of humanity itself,” Rev. Dr. Baggat stated.
“We stand in solidarity with the victims, their families, and all those grappling with the unimaginable grief and fear that these acts of terror have sown within our communities.”
Rev. Dr. Baggat called on the Federal Government and Plateau State Government to heighten and sustain efforts to safeguard lives and property, and urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incidents and ensure that the perpetrators of the violence are swiftly brought to justice to serve as a deterrent.
“The concern shown by the State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manaseh Mutfwang, is commendable, but we implore the government to rejuvenate the security architecture.
“We call on the Federal Government to explore lasting modalities to tackle this lingering problem of insecurity. Our communities cannot continue to live under the shadow of death and displacement,” the ECWA President added.
He also advised community members to remain vigilant and observant of security threats in their environments, while rejecting ideologies that seek to divide communities along ethnic or religious lines.
He further called on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), religious bodies, and well-to-do individuals to provide emergency assistance to the displaced persons and families, who lost their sources of livelihood in the attacks, and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured and comfort for the bereaved families.
“As followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers. We must come together in prayer and action to dismantle ideologies of fear and become champions of love and compassion,” Rev. Dr. Baggat concluded.
Earlier, the Berom Youth Mouders Association (BYM) also condemned the attack and issued a statement, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, to Journalist in Jos, in which it noted that, “Seven persons were brutally killed, following an attack by armed Fulani Terrorists at Ratatis, Dorowa Babuje, in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area.”
According to the statement, the attack occurred at about 7:27pm, left three others seriously injured. The victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.