Fresh violence has erupted in Plateau State after gunmen invaded Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area, killing at least 18 farmers and leaving several others injured.
The deadly attack reportedly occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, throwing the community into mourning and raising fresh concerns about insecurity in the area.
Confirming the incident, Bokkos Youth Leader, Christopher Luka, disclosed that he received a distress call from a fellow youth leader and member of the youth council shortly after the attack began.
According to Luka, the assailants stormed the village under the cover of darkness and opened fire on residents, resulting in multiple casualties.
He explained that upon receiving information about the attack, he immediately contacted security personnel stationed in Bokkos to alert them to the situation.
“A youth leader called me around midnight to report that gunmen had attacked the community and shot more than 20 people. So far, 18 deaths have been confirmed,” Luka said.
He added that security operatives informed him that they had already been notified and were mobilising to the affected community.
Luka described the attack as unprovoked and urged security agencies to take swift and decisive measures to prevent further violence and bring those responsible to justice.
As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Police Command and Operation Enduring Peace had not issued any official statement on the incident. Efforts to obtain comments from the command’s spokesperson, SP Alabo Alfred, and the media officer of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Auta, were unsuccessful.
The latest attack comes less than a week after another deadly incident in Bokkos LGA. The District Head of Gwande, Saf Samuel Alaket, was reportedly killed in an ambush along the Sha District route bordering Daffo community.
Alaket was said to be returning home from a traditional council meeting when he was attacked by armed men, further highlighting the growing security challenges facing communities in the local government area.
Residents have continued to call for increased security presence and stronger measures to curb the recurring attacks that have claimed several lives in recent months.
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