No fewer than five people have been killed by gunmen in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Residents of Rafut village in the Kwatas area, where the attack occurred on Monday night, said the gunmen ambushed and killed four young men guarding their family’s house.
They said that the gunmen invaded the compound and killed an elderly man before fleeing, bringing the overall death toll to five.
The deaths were reported to have occurred shortly after a security meeting with local stakeholders.
Farmasum Fuddang, Chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Council, acknowledged the deaths on Tuesday in a statement signed jointly with the association’s secretary, Duwam Bosco.
The statement, titled “Another Tragic Attack Claims Five Lives in Bokkos Despite Advance Warnings,” read, “With deep sadness, we wish to report that our communities have once again fallen victim to violence, with five of our members confirmed dead following an attack yesterday, October 14.
“This tragic incident comes on the heels of a week marked by bloody attacks, during which we buried over ten members of our community: five in Wumat on October 7, four in Kuba on October 10, one in Maikatako on October 11, and another on October 12.
“The attackers thereafter stormed the compound, killing an elderly man, bringing the total fatalities to five. Just a day prior, another young man was attacked while riding his motorcycle near Maikatako, further highlighting the escalating violence in our region.
“We commend the swift action taken by the military, which resulted in the rescue of Yelwa Sunday Mashat, who is currently recovering from severe injuries sustained during the attack. We also acknowledge the apprehension of several suspects and large cattle herds who drove into the road to block the victim.
“However, it is with deep regret that we observe the attack on Rafut occurred despite advance warnings clearly identifying these areas as at risk. More worrisome is the fact that it occurred mere hours after residents of Rafut reached out to police authorities reporting suspicious activity by Fulani groups in the area.
“Similar intelligence was shared shortly after the Wumat attack on October 7, including names of identified suspects who still roam free.”
The statement called for an urgent establishment of a civilian task force to address future occurrences.
“This situation underscores our urgent calls for the establishment of a civilian joint task force. The absence of such a group has deterred community members from participating in neighbourhood watch initiatives, particularly given past instances where individuals defending their communities were arrested or shot by military personnel.
“A joint task force would facilitate better intelligence sharing, eliminate misunderstandings, and significantly reduce response times during future invasions. While we recognise the military’s vital role in safeguarding lives and property, we understand the manpower and logistical challenges faced by troops.
“Therefore, we reiterate our request for assistance, as local residents possess invaluable knowledge of the terrain and can better support military efforts.
“Our demands stem from a profound commitment to our land and the ongoing threat we face. We cannot stand idly by and watch as terrorists from hundreds of miles away slaughter and displace us to take over our communities.
“This long-term agenda has been systematically and more vigorously executed in recent months, resulting in the deaths of over 400 of our members since the Christmas attacks on 26 of our communities.
“We wish to clarify that our appeals for involvement in our security management are a mark of respect for constituted authorities and our desire for a harmonious relationship with the military.
“Nonetheless, we are acutely aware of our constitutional right to self-defence, which we will exercise vigorously to protect our people.
“This serves as a record for any intent to raid or arrest community members who are risking their lives to defend our communities. We assure our members of our commitment to providing legal and diplomatic support to anyone legitimately exercising their right to self-defence.
“We urge everyone to take personal responsibility for their security. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of the victims of the Rafut attack.
“We call upon the government to take responsibility for the medical treatment of the injured. We again call for the arrest of Sale Yusuf, Yusuf Adamu, Umar Ori, and Muhammad Gorte for their roles in previous threats in the area.”
At the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Police Command has yet to issue a public comment about the deaths.
