Suspected terrorists stormed Mbwelle village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State late Thursday night, killing no fewer than eight persons in a deadly attack that has left the community in shock and anger.
The attack, which occurred around 11pm, saw the assailants invade the quiet settlement and open fire indiscriminately on residents for nearly an hour. Eyewitness accounts indicate that most of the victims were members of the same family, raising concerns about targeted violence.
Those confirmed dead include 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. At least three others sustained injuries, while several residents remain unaccounted for.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, described the attack as prolonged and distressing. He alleged that no security personnel arrived during the hours-long assault despite the community’s proximity to Bokkos town.
“The attackers operated for several hours without any visible security presence to repel them,” Mallai said, adding that the situation has sparked outrage among residents.
Mallai further claimed that security forces in the area are currently deployed to protect another community suspected by locals to be linked to the attackers, a development that has heightened tensions.
Also reacting, the Youth Leader of Bokkos, Christopher Luka, condemned the attack as “a sad and devastating assault on the people of Bokkos and Plateau State as a whole.”
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“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.
The incident has triggered anger among residents, many of whom are reportedly planning protests over what they describe as the failure of security operatives to safeguard lives and property.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attack adds to growing concerns over insecurity in Plateau State, where communities continue to grapple with recurring violence and deadly raids.
