Less than a week after armed assailants attacked mourners in the Ruwi community of Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA), Plateau State, another brutal assault has claimed the lives of at least 10 more residents. The latest attack, suspected to have been carried out by Fulani militia, targeted five communities in the LGA on Wednesday, leaving a trail of destruction and fear.
Confirming the incident on Friday, the Chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, Farmasum Fuddang, stated that the assault mirrored the previous attack in Ruwi.
According to Fuddang, the assailants, who allegedly spoke the Fulani dialect, launched their coordinated strikes in broad daylight, moving from one village to another. He described the series of attacks in a statement made available to journalists:
“There were attacks on Wednesday, affecting five villages. It began in Mongor, but security forces repelled the attackers. They then moved to Daffo, where they attempted another assault but were again pushed back. However, the gunmen proceeded to Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai villages, where they inflicted further devastation.”
Fuddang lamented the rising death toll, revealing that over 20 community members had lost their lives in just one week.
“On April 2 alone, they killed more than 10 people. We are grateful to the Nigerian military and police for their swift response, which helped reduce the number of casualties.”
The wave of violence has displaced many residents, forcing them to flee for safety as their communities remain deserted. Fuddang called on emergency relief agencies such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Nigerian Red Cross to provide urgent aid to those affected.
In a plea to the community, Fuddang urged residents to remain vigilant and support security forces in efforts to safeguard lives and property.
“The people of Bokkos must not allow themselves to be slaughtered or rely solely on government security forces, who cannot be everywhere at all times. At the very least, citizens should arm themselves with non-prohibited weapons to delay attackers until help arrives. Anything less could be fatal,” he warned.
The latest attacks underscore the growing insecurity in Plateau State, with residents now living in fear as they struggle to protect their communities from further violence.
