Again: Fifteen slaughtered in Plateau as gunmen roam unchecked

DDM News

At least 15 people have been killed in fresh coordinated attacks on communities in Plateau State, deepening fears of a resurgence of violence in the region.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the separate assaults took place on Thursday night in Manja community, Chakfem kingdom, Mangu Local Government Area (LGA), and Tangur community in Bokkos LGA.

The gunmen reportedly stormed the two communities at different times, unleashing chaos and leaving a trail of death and destruction.

According to local accounts, the attack on Tangur in Bokkos occurred around 9pm, catching residents unprepared as many had retired for the night.

In Manja, Chakfem, the attackers struck earlier in the evening, operating for several minutes before fleeing the scene under cover of darkness.

Eyewitnesses told DDM that the attackers moved from house to house, shooting sporadically and breaking into homes, leaving residents in terror.

Community sources confirmed that seven people were killed in the Mangu attack, while eight lost their lives in Bokkos, bringing the total death toll to 15.

Shohotden Mathias Ibrahim, Director of Culture for the Mwaghavul Development Association and Director of the IDP (Pilot Science) Camp in Mangu, confirmed the Mangu death toll.

He described the situation in the area as tense and unstable, warning that more lives could be lost if urgent security reinforcements are not deployed.

“As I speak to you, the atmosphere is filled with fear and mourning,” he said. “The people are scared that the attackers might return.”

DDM made efforts to reach other community leaders in Bokkos for further confirmation, but messages and calls remained unanswered as of Friday morning.

Attempts to get official statements from the Plateau State Police Command were also unsuccessful, as calls and texts to the spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, went unanswered.

The latest incident adds to a growing list of attacks that have plagued Plateau State in recent years, particularly in Bokkos, Mangu, Riyom, and Barkin Ladi LGAs.

Despite multiple security deployments and the presence of Operation Safe Haven in the state, targeted killings and invasions of communities have persisted.

In April and May 2024, similar night attacks claimed dozens of lives in the same two LGAs, leading to mass displacements and the swelling of already overwhelmed IDP camps.

Several civil society groups and religious leaders have repeatedly called on the federal government to implement sustainable security and reconciliation measures.

Residents blame the unending violence on the absence of justice for past atrocities and a lack of political will to prosecute perpetrators.

Local vigilante groups have also come under pressure as they struggle with limited resources and arms against well-coordinated and heavily armed attackers.

Many community members now sleep in shifts or relocate to neighboring towns each night to avoid being caught in surprise raids.

The violence has led to the abandonment of farms and schools in affected areas, worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in Plateau State.

Human rights activists have warned that the continuous attacks could spiral into a larger ethno-religious conflict if not addressed swiftly and decisively.

In recent months, displaced persons from previous attacks have barely settled into temporary shelters before facing new threats to their lives.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have not yet issued statements on the current attack.

Meanwhile, several local organizations are already mobilizing relief materials for the affected communities and planning burial arrangements for the victims.

There is rising concern that these repeated attacks are pushing communities into cycles of vengeance, making peace initiatives harder to sustain.

Security analysts warn that Plateau risks becoming a permanent hotspot for violence unless early warning systems and community policing structures are strengthened.

The renewed killings have sparked outrage on social media, with many Nigerians demanding accountability and protection for rural populations.

Calls are also growing for the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the most affected LGAs to forestall further bloodshed.

As of the time of filing this report, no arrests have been made, and the identities of the attackers remain unknown.

DDM will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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