Four Traders Ambushed and Killed in Plateau State Ambush Laid to Rest in Barkin Ladi Amid Rising Tensions

 

The bodies of four traders killed in a deadly ambush along the Jos-Pankshin highway have been recovered and buried in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, as authorities work to prevent further escalation of tensions in the region.

The victims, identified as shoe sellers from the Gangare area in Jos North (including Uwaisu, Zubairu, Shamsu, and Babakarami), were part of a group of six traveling to Pankshin Local Government Area for business on Monday, February 23, 2026. Gunmen reportedly ambushed their vehicle near Mangu Hale in Mangu LGA, killing four while two others escaped.

Suleiman Abubakar, an official from the Traders and Marketers Association, Jos Main Market branch, confirmed the attack, stating that the survivors had been reached and were safe. He urged calm among residents.

The corpses were transported to Barkin Ladi for burial on Monday evening at the Sabon Anguwa cemetery in Barkin Ladi town. Security sources indicated the decision to hold the burial there—away from the victims' home communities—was deliberate to avoid inflaming tensions in Jos amid recent reprisal killings and heightened insecurity in Plateau State.

Plateau has seen a spike in violence recently, including coordinated attacks on communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom LGAs that left several dead, prompting deployments of security forces and calls for de-escalation from local leaders.

No official statement has been issued by security agencies on the ambush, though investigations are ongoing. Community leaders and traders have appealed for peace and restraint to prevent reprisals.

This incident underscores the persistent challenges of insecurity along major highways in Plateau, where traders and travelers remain vulnerable to armed attacks. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.