At least 22 people, including farmers, health workers and security personnel, have been killed in a fresh attack on Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, deepening concerns over the worsening security situation in the region despite renewed assurances from the Federal Government.
The attack, which occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, caught residents by surprise as many were asleep. According to the Bokkos Youth Leader, Christopher Luka, heavily armed assailants stormed the community and opened fire indiscriminately, leaving scores dead and several others wounded. He described the attack as unprovoked and appealed to authorities to take decisive measures to prevent further bloodshed.
The incident came less than a week after the killing of the District Head of Gwande, Saf Samuel Alaket, who was ambushed and murdered while returning from a traditional council meeting along the Sha District axis bordering Daffo community, highlighting the persistent insecurity that has plagued Bokkos and surrounding areas.
A Red Cross official involved in rescue operations disclosed that the attackers also targeted the village’s primary healthcare centre. Health workers who were on duty, alongside patients receiving treatment, were among those killed. Security personnel responding to the attack were also reportedly caught in the violence, while several residents sustained gunshot and machete wounds.
Emergency responders evacuated survivors to hospitals in Bokkos and neighbouring Mangu Local Government Area for urgent treatment. Some victims with severe injuries were transferred to specialised facilities, while many traumatised residents fled to nearby communities for safety. Houses, barns and food storage facilities were reportedly burnt or destroyed during the assault, worsening the humanitarian impact on affected families.
Christopher Luka, who visited the scene, later confirmed that the number of casualties had risen from the initial 18 to 22, with women among those killed. He lamented the recurring attacks and urged the government to strengthen security measures to protect vulnerable communities.
The Plateau State Government condemned the killings, describing them as barbaric and senseless. In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, Governor Caleb Mutfwang directed security agencies to intensify efforts aimed at identifying and arresting those responsible. The governor also ordered emergency agencies to provide immediate relief materials and support to victims and displaced residents while urging communities to avoid reprisals and cooperate with security operatives.
The Plateau State Police Command confirmed that security reinforcements had been deployed to restore calm. According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Alabo Alfred, 18 bodies were initially recovered from the scene, while three injured victims were rushed to hospital. Two later died from their injuries, bringing the casualty figure to 20 based on police records, although local sources put the death toll at 22.
To prevent further escalation, the Commissioner of Police directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and the Area Commander in Pankshin to relocate to the affected area and oversee security operations. Additional tactical teams and Police Mobile Force personnel have also been deployed to conduct intensive patrols and launch a manhunt for the attackers.
The latest violence has reignited concerns over the effectiveness of security measures announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his visit to Plateau State on April 2.
During the visit, the President sympathised with victims of earlier attacks and pledged that his administration would do everything possible to end the cycle of killings. He also promised the deployment of a 5,000-camera surveillance network across Jos and surrounding areas to improve intelligence gathering and response capabilities.
However, since that visit, more than 80 people have reportedly lost their lives in separate attacks across Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bassa and other local government areas.
Victims have included farmers, herders, students, traders, miners, traditional rulers and religious leaders, raising fears that the violence is becoming increasingly entrenched.
Leaders of both farming and herding communities have expressed disappointment over the continued bloodshed. The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) said the President’s assurances have yet to translate into improved security on the ground, noting that attacks have continued almost unabated. Its spokesperson, Rwang Tengwong, questioned how armed attackers continue to operate despite the presence of security checkpoints and called for more proactive measures to dismantle criminal networks responsible for the violence.
Similarly, the Plateau State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, stressed that lasting peace would require collective efforts involving government, community leaders, religious institutions and residents. He noted that both farmers and herders have suffered immense losses and restrictions on their livelihoods as insecurity continues to disrupt daily life.
Security experts have also attributed the recurring attacks to inadequate intelligence utilisation and delayed responses by security agencies. Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), C Division, Abdullahi Aliyu Bako, argued that warning signs are often ignored until violence erupts. He called for improved intelligence gathering and timely intervention, stressing that no society can effectively combat insecurity without acting promptly on credible information.
As communities mourn yet another tragic loss, residents and stakeholders continue to demand stronger security measures and lasting solutions to the decades-long violence that has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands across Plateau State.
