Gunmen Kill Eight in Late-Night Plateau Raid

Gunmen killed eight people during a late-night assault on Mbwelle village in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State on Thursday. The attackers stormed the community at approximately 11 p.m., engaging in sporadic shooting that lasted nearly an hour. Most of the victims belonged to a single family, identified locally as the Dakus family. Aside from the dead, three residents sustained severe injuries while several others remain missing. This latest raid marks a violent resurgence in a region long troubled by ethnic and land-related tensions.

Samuel Amalau, the Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area, described the incident as a senseless act of violence by terrorists against law-abiding citizens. He noted that the unprovoked nature of the attack serves as a direct assault on the collective humanity of the state. While he commended security agencies for their general efforts, he admitted that community vigilance has now become more critical than ever. The chairman urged local youths to exercise restraint to avoid a cycle of retaliatory violence. He insisted that the right to lawful self-defence remains, yet he pleaded for cooperation with formal security channels.

Local peace observers have painted a more damning picture of the security response during the hour-long massacre. Kefas Mallai, chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, noted that the village sits in proximity to the main town. Despite this, he claimed there was no visible security presence to repel the gunmen while the shooting was underway. This perceived negligence has heightened tensions and sparked talk of mass protests among the grieving residents. Anger is particularly high following reports that security personnel were busy protecting a different community during the raid.

The Plateau Police Command has confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify the perpetrators. Alfred Alabo, the police spokesperson, assured the public that details would be released once the preliminary findings are concluded. For now, the names of the deceased have been documented, including Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus and seven other male relatives. The government maintains that it is working to restore lasting peace, but the recurrence of these “hit-and-run” tactics suggests a significant gap in rural intelligence.

Bokkos has frequently been the epicentre of clashes between farming communities and nomadic groups. These attacks often follow a pattern of nighttime raids followed by a disappearance into the surrounding hills. Without a more permanent security footprint in these vulnerable wards, residents remain exposed to well-armed militias. The state government is now under renewed pressure to move beyond condemnatory statements and deliver actionable security.