No fewer than eight people have lost their lives in fresh attacks by gunmen on communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the victims of the gunmen include a pastor and seven inhabitants.
The Chairman of Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, Kefas Mallai, who confirmed the killings in Jos on Tuesday, stated that the attacks began on Sunday, at around 10 pm, when Pastor Mimang Lekyil of COCIN LCC Kwakas-Mushere Bokkos LGA was attacked and killed in the pastorium.
He further disclosed that the pastor’s wife was shot in the leg and is currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH.
According to him, the situation worsened on Monday, when native youths enraged by the attacks reportedly destroyed Fulani structures in the same Kwakas neighbourhood where the pastor was killed.
However, security agents stepped in and got the situation under control.
Kefas went on to say that, regrettably, the same day, around 9 p.m., the herders’ militia mobilised and attacked the nearby Mbor community of Mushere, killing seven people.
The chairman said, “At about 10:00 pm on Sunday, one Pastor Mimang Lekyil of Cocin LCC Kwakas-Mushere Bokkos LGA was attacked and killed in the pastorium, and his wife, who was shot in the leg, was taken to JUTH for treatment. The corpse of the pastor has been deposited in the mortuary at Luna Hospital, Bokkos.
“In the afternoon of Monday, native youths who were angry with the unprovoked attack and killing of the pastor reportedly razed Fulani structures in the same Kwakas area where the incident took place, but security personnel intervened and brought the whole thing under control.
“They were making efforts to calm the angry youths in the community, but at about 9 pm last night, on Monday, seven natives were attacked and killed at the Mbor community of Mushere by suspected herders. Security agencies were alerted, but before their arrival, the casualties were recorded.
“Due to the inadequate presence of security personnel in the area right now, some native women and children are leaving Kopmur and surrounding settlements near Mbor for any seemingly safer places.”
Furthermore, he called for the help of the security agencies to restore normalcy in the communities. “I have just called the DPO to let him know that the people in the affected community are calling me; there is no presence of security men there, and his number is not going through. I called the DCO, who told me that they had already deployed security men to the area.
“This is the situation in these communities of Bokkos LGA right now as I speak with you.”
When reached, Alabo Alfred, spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, stated that the situation was under control and that the state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, had deployed security personnel to preserve peace and order in the affected areas.
