A member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Dickson Chollom, has condemned the continued use of the phrase “unknown gunmen” to describe attackers responsible for recurring violence in Plateau communities, insisting that those behind the latest killings in Barkin Ladi are now known.

Chollom, who represents Barkin Ladi Constituency and chairs the House Committee on Works and Transport, spoke during a sympathy and fact-finding visit to Heipang District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where gunmen recently invaded the community, killing three people and leaving one other critically injured.

The lawmaker disclosed that security operatives had arrested one of the alleged perpetrators, adding that the suspect had already made confessional statements that reportedly exposed the identities of his accomplices and shed light on how the attack was planned and executed.

“We will no longer accept the term ‘unknown gunmen’. One of the perpetrators has been arrested and he has made confessions about those who joined him in carrying out this heinous attack,” Chollom said during the visit, surrounded by grieving families and community leaders.

He argued that continuing to label the assailants as “unknown” only deepens public mistrust and fuels a sense of impunity, especially in communities that have endured repeated assaults over the years. According to him, residents of Barkin Ladi and Plateau State at large are entitled to clear information about who is attacking them and what steps are being taken to hold the culprits accountable.

Chollom urged security agencies to break what he described as a culture of silence by disclosing the outcome of their investigations. He demanded that the confessional statements, the identities of suspects, and details of where they are being held be made public, within the bounds of the law, to reassure citizens that justice is not being swept under the carpet.

The lawmaker further called for a more proactive security presence in vulnerable communities, warning that failure to act decisively would embolden criminal networks and deepen the cycle of violence. He maintained that transparency, timely prosecution, and visible consequences for attackers are essential to restoring confidence in state institutions and deterring future assaults.