19 Feared Killed, Several Injured In Fresh Plateau Village Attack

No fewer than 19 persons were feared killed and several others injured after gunmen attacked Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State late Sunday night.

Residents said the attackers stormed the community while people were asleep, unleashing gunfire and forcing villagers to flee for safety.

A resident, Malo Bitrus, told LEADERSHIP that the gunmen invaded the village at about 11:40 p.m., shooting sporadically as they moved through the community.

He said more than 19 people were killed in the attack, while several others sustained injuries.

Confirming the incident, Bokkos Youth Leader, Christopher Luka, said the assailants invaded the community and opened fire on residents.

According to him, information about the attack reached local youth leaders shortly after midnight.

“A youth leader called around 12 a.m. and reported that gunmen attacked the community and shot several persons. So far, 19 deaths have been confirmed,” Luka said.

He explained that immediately after receiving the distress report, he alerted security personnel stationed in Bokkos.

“I contacted security personnel and they confirmed they had received information about the incident and were moving to the affected community,” he added.

Luka described the attack as unprovoked and called on security agencies to intensify efforts to prevent further violence and provide greater protection for vulnerable communities across the area.

The latest incident comes less than five days after the killing of the District Head of Gwande in Bokkos Local Government Area, Saf Samuel Alaket.

Alaket was reportedly attacked and killed along the Sha District axis bordering Daffo community while returning from a traditional council meeting.

The renewed violence has heightened concerns over security in Bokkos and surrounding communities, which have witnessed recurring attacks in recent months.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command and the spokesman of Operation Safe Haven were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

Calls and messages sent to SP Alfred Alabo, Police Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Police Command, and Captain Polycarp Oteh, spokesman of Operation Safe Haven, were not responded to.