Suspected herdsmen launched deadly attacks on two communities—Juwan in Bokkos Local Government Area and Manja in Mangu Local Government Area—of Plateau State on Thursday, resulting in the death of at least 13 people, mostly children and the elderly, and the destruction of multiple homes.
In Juwan, located in the Tangur District of Bokkos LGA, the attackers reportedly struck at night, killing ten people and leaving several others with serious injuries. The victims were largely vulnerable residents who could not escape the onslaught.
Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Council, Amalau Samuel, condemned the killings, describing them as “barbaric and inhuman.”
“The attackers came late at night and started killing innocent people. They were going from house to house, and where they could not gain entrance, they broke through the ceiling,”
“Those affected mostly are the aged and children who could not run, while those agile fled for safety,” he said.
In a related attack on the same day, three persons were killed while working on their farms in Manja, Chafem Chiefdom of Mangu LGA. The victims were caught unawares by the assailants, while others sustained injuries but managed to escape following the intervention of security forces who responded to distress calls.
A second wave of attacks later that day saw over 20 houses razed in Manja, forcing many residents to flee.
The lawmaker representing Mangu South in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mathew Kwarpo, confirmed the attacks and raised concerns over the growing insecurity in the area.
“In the second attack, there was no casualty, but the people are already displaced. So, we are appealing to both the state and federal governments to come to our aid.
“The attacks in recent times on our communities are just too much. Anytime they issued notice of an attack, they would fulfill it.
“The security men are no doubt trying their best, but they are being overpowered. This is a calculated attempt to seize our land from us and to occupy our land illegally. So we are calling on President Tinubu to intervene,” he said.
Communities in Bokkos, Bassa, and Mangu LGAs of Plateau State have come under repeated attacks in recent months, with rising concerns over the safety of residents and a growing humanitarian crisis due to displacement and destruction of property.
