At least 20 people were killed after gunmen invaded Binper community in Kombun/Bwai District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, late Monday, August 17, 2026, attacking residents in their homes while they slept.
The attackers reportedly moved from house to house, killing residents and destroying property in the agrarian community.
Gunmen Attack Residents in Their Homes
Local sources said the attackers forced their way into homes and killed occupants using daggers, knives and other weapons, apparently to avoid creating noise that could alert nearby residents.
Several people were reportedly injured in the attack, while others remain missing. Houses and farmlands were also said to have been destroyed or burnt during the incident.
The community is also referred to as Binpe or Amper in some reports.
Casualty Figure Still Being Verified
The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Deacon Bulus Dabit, confirmed the attack and the deaths recorded in the community.
Reports from Nigerian media put the death toll between 20 and 24 people, although the exact figure remains unclear. The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the incident but said it was still verifying the number of casualties.
Security personnel were deployed to the community on Tuesday morning as authorities assessed the situation. The state’s new Commissioner of Police and other senior officers were also reported to have headed to the area.
Residents React After Midnight Killings
Video footage circulating after the attack showed residents, including women, moving through the rural community along dirt paths near homes and trees.
Some residents were seen raising their hands or holding green leaves and branches, apparently expressing grief and distress over the killings.
The attack has renewed concerns about security in Mangu LGA, an area that has experienced repeated violence involving farmer-herder tensions and other armed groups.
Residents and community leaders have continued to call for stronger security presence in vulnerable communities across Plateau State.
