Gunmen on Thursday night invaded Mbwelle village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State and killed at least eight persons, mostly members of the same family.
The victims included 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.
The Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, confirmed the killings to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday.
“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,” Mallai said.
He added that the attack lasted for several hours with no visible security presence to repel the attackers.
“The people are saying they want to protest because the security men have not protected them. The attack lasted for hours and yet, no presence of security to repel the assailants until those people finished and left. No trace.”
Mallai further alleged that security forces did not respond despite the proximity of the area.
Youth Leader of Bokkos, Christopher Luka, also confirmed the incident, describing it as “a sad and devastating assault on the people of Bokkos and Plateau State as a whole.”
“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.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Plateau State Police Command spokesman were unsuccessful as of press time.
The attack comes amid escalating security challenges in Bokkos and neighbouring LGAs. The Berom Youth Moulders Association recently raised alarm over unrelenting ambushes and killings targeting residents in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Jos South LGAs.
The group described the attacks as a calculated campaign of terror allegedly aimed at grabbing ancestral lands, and called on security agencies to step up surveillance and patrols along critical corridors.
