The remains of traders killed while travelling from Jos to Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State are laid to rest in Barkin Ladi amid tight security, as authorities move to prevent further tension following the recent wave of violence in the state.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the burial takes place on Monday evening at the Sabon Anguwa cemetery in Barkin Ladi town, following consultations between community leaders and government officials over security concerns.
Relatives of the victims confirm that the deceased were weekly shoe traders who regularly travelled from Jos to Pankshin for business. The victims are identified as residents of Yandoya community in Jos North Local Government Area.
Mediaplusng.com reports that government sources indicate the decision to conduct the burial in Barkin Ladi, rather than in the victims’ home community, is taken to ease rising tension after reports of the killings trigger unrest.
Findings reveal that the traders are attacked in the aftermath of earlier assaults on Dorowa Babuje and Jol communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas, where at least 10 persons lose their lives in coordinated night attacks.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the slain traders are reportedly caught in the violence that follows the attacks on the two communities, deepening fears of reprisal incidents and escalating insecurity across affected parts of Plateau State.
A Muslim community leader in Barkin Ladi, Danjuma Ibrahim, explains in a telephone interview that youths gather in protest after news of the killings spreads, demanding the release of the bodies of their relatives. Security agencies subsequently deploy personnel to maintain order and prevent breakdown of law and order.
Ibrahim states that the corpses are transported into Barkin Ladi earlier on Monday after community leaders are informed of the arrangement. Funeral rites are conducted promptly in an effort to calm emotions and avoid further unrest.
He discloses that six traders are involved in the incident, with two managing to escape while four are confirmed dead and buried. He urges residents to remain calm and law-abiding, emphasising the importance of peaceful coexistence despite heightened tension.
Security presence remains visible in Barkin Ladi and surrounding areas during and after the burial, as authorities intensify patrols to deter potential retaliatory violence.
Community stakeholders call on the Plateau State Government and federal security agencies to strengthen surveillance, dismantle criminal hideouts, and implement long-term peacebuilding strategies to address recurring attacks in the region.
Observers note that the incident underscores the fragile security situation in parts of Plateau State, where cycles of violence have disrupted livelihoods, displaced families, and heightened mistrust among communities.
As grieving families mourn their loved ones, leaders across religious and ethnic lines appeal for restraint, dialogue, and collective action to restore stability. The burial in Barkin Ladi marks a solemn moment in an already tense period, with renewed calls for decisive government intervention to halt the growing insecurity across Plateau communities.
