8 killed as gunmen raid Plateau community

Gunmen on Thursday night launched an attack on Mbwelle village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing no fewer than eight people.

Findings revealed that the majority of the victims belonged to the same family.

The deceased have been identified as Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus, Mr Luck Titus Dakus, Mr Habila Istifanu Dakus, Mr Hassan Istifanus Dakus, Mrs Hassan Moses Dakus, Biggie Lucky Dakus, Sunday Gideon Dakus and Mr Innocent Barnabas Makwin.

Confirming the incident in Jos on Friday, the Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, said the attackers struck at about 11pm, shooting indiscriminately at residents.

According to him, aside from those killed, about three people sustained injuries, while several others were yet to be accounted for.

Mallai said: “There was an attack last night at Mbwelle village. The village is very close to Bokkos town. So far eight persons have been confirmed dead this morning.

“The people are saying they want to protest because the security men have not protected them and the attack lasted for hours and yet, no presence of security to repel the assailants until those people finished and left. No trace.”

He added: “The attack lasted for several hours with no visible security presence to repel the attackers.”

Mallai further alleged that despite the closeness of security formations, there was no response, claiming that operatives were instead deployed to guard a community suspected by Bokkos natives to be linked to the attackers.

Also speaking, the Youth Leader of Bokkos, Christopher Luka, described the incident as tragic and devastating.

“The gunmen came around 11pm and started shooting sporadically. They targeted one family mostly. We have eight confirmed dead, some seriously injured, and others still unaccounted for,” Luka said.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful.

Similarly, the Media Officer of the Joint Military Taskforce, Chinonso Oteh, could not immediately provide details on the development.

“I will get back to you,” he said.

Bokkos and neighbouring local government areas in Plateau State have continued to grapple with persistent security challenges in recent years.

Tensions escalated last week when the Berom Youth Moulders Association raised concerns over recurring attacks and killings in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South LGAs, despite the presence of security personnel.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, the association, under the leadership of National President Dalyop Mwantiri, alleged that the violence was part of a deliberate campaign aimed at taking over ancestral lands.

The group disclosed that on Wednesday, gunmen ambushed travellers returning from mining activities near the Great Commission area along Bokkos Road en route to Nding in Fan District of Barkin Ladi LGA at about 4:15pm.

During the attack, Mr Ayuba Pam of Nding Sesut was killed, while Mr Alfred Dung and Mr Nathaniel Bitrus sustained serious injuries and were hospitalised.

Later that same day, at about 6:30pm, another attack occurred along the Gwolhoss–Byei road in Riyom LGA, where Mr Christopher Joshua, a father of three from Byei community, was shot dead while returning home.

The association condemned the incidents, describing them as part of sustained attacks on Berom communities, and expressed concern that such violence persisted along major rural routes frequently used by farmers, miners and commuters.

It called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and patrols across key routes, including the Great Commission–Bokkos road, Great Commission–Gashish axis, Rahoss–Rim road, Kwi–Farin Lamba road, Gwolhoss–Jol–Sho road and Rim–Bachi road.

 

(PUNCH)