At least 20 people are dead and many more wounded after heavily armed gunmen stormed the Binper community in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, in a gruesome midnight raid that residents are calling a “slaughter.”
The attack unfolded between late Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with assailants moving methodically from house to house—breaking down doors and attacking sleeping villagers.
“They came with heavy weapons, forcing their way into homes while people were asleep,” said eyewitness Daniel Musa. “They were slaughtering families in their rooms. As of this morning, we’ve counted over 20 bodies. Many are injured, and some still can’t be found.”
Another resident, John Dalyop, described the scene as “terrible” and voiced frustration over the delayed security response.
“We expected the new Commissioner of Police to act fast and go after these killers,” Dalyop said. He condemned the attack as barbaric and called on both state and federal authorities to urgently deploy stronger security around vulnerable communities across Mangu and the wider Plateau.
Injured victims are currently receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, while local leaders and residents scramble to account for the missing. Security operatives were reportedly deployed to the area Tuesday morning to restore calm and prevent further bloodshed.
Efforts to get an official reaction from security agencies were unsuccessful as of press time.
