Community leaders in Plateau state, Nigeria, are appealing for international attention after the killing of a Christian church worker and community leader, John Telle Danjuma, and the separate killing of three people at a mining site in a nearby community. 

Danjuma was killed on June 24, near Gyu, also called Twins Hill, in the Miango area, about a quarter of a mile from the Nigerian Army’s shooting range, 20 miles west of Jos in Bassa Local Government Area. Local youth leaders alleged that he was ambushed by armed Fulani militants while returning from Jos, the Plateau state capital. His death was later announced by the Miango Youth Development Association, which said he had recently been sworn in as its director of socials. 

Miango is a predominantly Christian farming district in Plateau, part of Nigeria’s Middle Belt. For many American readers, the Middle Belt can be understood as a region between Nigeria’s largely Muslim far north and its largely Christian south. Plateau has experienced repeated violence involving rural farming communities, armed groups, and disputes over land, security, and identity. Miango lies northeast of Jos and is home to the Irigwe people, many of whom are Christians and farmers. 

At a funeral service held at ECWA Gospel Church Miango, family members, church leaders, and friends remembered Danjuma as a man of faith, humility, and service. Rev. Emmanuel Benedict Zamfara, the manager of Miango Rest Home, joined other mourners in paying tribute to him during the church service. Speakers described Danjuma as a trusted church worker whose character set him apart among those who served the church and community. 

A Servant’s Heart 

Church leaders said Danjuma had served faithfully for many years and had become a familiar face in the church and community. They said his death had left a gap among family members, church workers, and youth leaders who had looked to him for service and support.

According to accounts shared during the service, Danjuma had traveled from Jos and was delayed by heavy rainfall. While returning, he was reportedly caught in a fatal attack near the customs area. Colleagues became concerned after repeated attempts to reach him by phone failed. Witnesses later informed community members of what had happened. 

The Miango Youth Development Association said Danjuma was in his early 30s and had taken office only two months before his death. The association said he had begun developing plans to strengthen social activities and unity among young people in Miango District. He is survived by his wife and young son. 

In a statement dated June 25, the association called for government intervention, investigation of the killing, prosecution of those responsible, and stronger protection for vulnerable communities. The statement, signed electronically by MYDA spokesperson Weyi Agara, said that residents could not continue to live under repeated attacks without stronger action by the authorities. 

At a candlelight vigil held on June 30 in Danjuma’s memory, Agara Weyi addressed mourners and called on Nigerian authorities and international partners to pay attention to the killings in Miango and other parts of Plateau state. 

“We cannot continue to bury our brothers,” Weyi said. “We cannot continue to weep. Our dreams cannot be cut short. We have plans and a future. It is God who has given us that future, and no one has the right to take it away.” 

A Plea for Help 

Weyi also appealed directly to the international community, including the United States government, to engage Nigerian authorities over the security situation in the Middle Belt. 

“This is not artificial intelligence. This is not manipulation. These events are happening live in Miango and across Plateau state,” he said. “People are being killed, and the world needs to know.” 

He alleged that armed Fulani extremists were responsible for attacks against farming communities in the area and claimed that the violence was connected to efforts to displace residents from ancestral lands. These allegations reflect the views of local community leaders and have not been independently verified. 

Sunday Gado, a leader of the Miango Youth Development Association, also described Danjuma’s killing as a major loss to Miango District. Gado said Danjuma was a dedicated community leader whose plans for youth engagement had been cut short. He also criticized the response of security forces, alleging that negligence by personnel contributed to attacks in the area. The Nigerian Army had not responded to those claims in the accounts provided. 

Residents said the killing of Danjuma occurred amid a series of attacks across Plateau. Community members said that at least 17 people had been killed in separate incidents over a period of just over one week, including eight victims in Miango communities of Bassa Local Government Area. They alleged that roadside ambushes had targeted farmers and commuters, making it difficult for some residents to travel to farms or move safely between communities. 

Additional Violence 

In a separate incident, at least three people were killed and two others injured when gunmen attacked a mining site in the Nyango community of Gyel District, Jos South Local Government Area. Gyel lies south of Jos and is part of a cluster of communities affected by repeated security concerns. The attack reportedly occurred at about 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday when armed men entered the mining site and opened fire. 

A resident, Chuwang Rogo, said miners were caught by surprise, with some already inside mining pits when the shooting began. He said the death toll could have been higher if others had not fled after hearing the first gunshots. 

The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the attack in a statement and said that Gyel and nearby communities had repeatedly raised concerns about armed activity around the Gyero and Rafin Buna axis. Association representatives said the violence had affected mining, farming, and daily movement, leaving families without safe access to their sources of livelihood. 

The Berom Youth Moulders-Association called on security agencies to increase operations in the area, dismantle criminal hideouts, and arrest those responsible. It also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies. 

A Plea for Peace 

For Christian communities in Plateau, the latest killings have added to longstanding fears over safety, displacement, and access to farmland. Local leaders say many families continue to live with uncertainty as they travel to farms, attend church, or move between villages. 

At Danjuma’s funeral, church leaders urged mourners to reflect on life’s uncertainty and remain faithful in their Christian walk. They prayed for his wife, son, relatives, and the wider Miango community. 

Weyi, speaking at the candlelight vigil, said the community was asking for peace and justice, not revenge. 

“We are tired of burying our people,” he said. “We want peace. We want justice. We want the killings to stop.” 

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