27 Caskets, Countless Cries: Plateau Buries Farmers Slain In Brutal Attack

27 Caskets, Countless Cries: Plateau Buries Farmers Slain In Brutal Attack

It was a scene that words could barely capture – 27 caskets, side by side, lowered into the earth, each one holding a life lost too soon.

The atmosphere in Bindi-Jebu village was heavy with grief as sobbing mothers, fathers, siblings, and neighbours clung to one another, their cries rising to the sky in anguish.

The quiet hills of Riyom Local Government Area became a valley of mourning on Friday, as the community came together to give mass burial to the victims of the July 15th attack.

Most of those killed were farmers, ordinary people who had gone to bed hoping to rise early for work.

Instead, they were struck down by unknown gunmen in a senseless act of violence that shattered the peace and left dozens wounded.

Chairman of the local council, Bature Shuwa, stood among the mourners, his voice faltering as he addressed the crowd.

He said, “We’re not here for a ceremony, we’re here because pain has driven us to the edge. These caskets contain more than bodies; they carry dreams, laughter, and livelihoods we will never get back.”

He paused, glancing at the grieving families.

“To those whose homes are now silent, whose tables have empty chairs, we mourn with you.

“This is not just your loss; it is ours.”

The Chairman also thanked Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, whose swift visit to Bindi in the wake of the attack brought a measure of comfort.

“His Excellency came not as a stranger, but as a father to a wounded family. For that, we are grateful,” Shuwa said.

Community leaders and state officials joined hands to support those affected, pledging to keep the memories of the victims alive through action and advocacy.

A prayer for healing and strength rang through the village, as Chairman Shuwa said, “May the God of all comfort hold every soul close. And may Bindi-Jebu rise again, not broken, but bound together in hope.”