Suspected herdsmen violently targeted five Plateau State communities Wednesday night, killing over 20 residents within a week.
Bokkos Local Government Area villages—Mongor, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai—endured coordinated assaults, leaving survivors traumatized.
Farmasum Fuddang, Chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC), confirmed the attacks Thursday.
He reported that assailants first struck Mongor but security forces repelled them.
Undeterred, attackers redirected violence toward Daffo, where authorities again intervened.
However, subsequent raids on Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai caused devastating casualties and displacement.
“Security teams initially halted attacks in Mongor and Daffo,” Fuddang stated, “but later assaults overwhelmed villages, claiming lives.”
He praised military and police responsiveness yet stressed urgent federal aid to protect civilians.
Over 20 deaths occurred since April 2, including 10 fatalities that day alone.
Meanwhile, displaced survivors urgently require food, shelter, and medical care.
Fuddang urged agencies like NEMA, SEMA, and the Red Cross to accelerate relief efforts.
He also mourned victims, pleading for swift government action to prevent further bloodshed.
Plateau State officials condemned the violence, urging calm amid rising tensions.
Information Commissioner Joyce Ramnap expressed solidarity with affected communities, emphasizing vigilance and peace.
“We grieve with Ruwi, Mangor, and other attacked villages,” she told reporters, urging restraint despite escalating fear.
Concurrently, security forces heightened patrols across Bokkos, aiming to deter fresh attacks.
Community leaders, however, demand stronger federal support to address root causes—including land disputes and resource conflicts—fueling recurrent violence.
Investigations continue as residents criticize delayed humanitarian aid.
NEMA and SEMA face mounting pressure to assist displaced families, while the Red Cross mobilizes teams to treat injuries and distribute supplies.
Survivors recount harrowing escapes, describing burned homes and shattered livelihoods. “They stormed at night, shooting indiscriminately,” said a Tadai resident, now sheltering in a school. Many fear returning without guaranteed safety.
President Tinubu’s office pledged solidarity, vowing to “restore lasting peace,” yet locals criticize vague timelines.
Analysts urge comprehensive strategies, combining security upgrades with dialogue to resolve intercommunal tensions.
Plateau State’s crisis mirrors Nigeria’s broader security challenges, where armed groups frequently target rural communities.
Experts warn that delayed interventions risk further destabilizing the region.
As nightfall returns, displaced families brace for uncertainty. Children’s cries echo in overcrowded camps, while elders lament lost traditions.
“We just want peace,” whispered a Hurati community leader, staring at smoldering fields.
The State Government promises intensified negotiations with herder and farmer representatives, but trust remains fragile.
For now, Bokkos residents cling to hope as they bury their dead and await meaningful change.