No fewer than 14 villagers and a mobile police officer were killed on Thursday in two separate attacks carried out by terrorists in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Chronicle NG gathered that one of the terrorists’ attacks took place around 4:00 pm as the victims, mostly from the Chirang community, were returning from Bokkos market to Mangor village in the locality.
The Chairman of Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, Kefas Mallai, confirmed the killings to the press in Jos on Thursday night.
Mallai said, “Yes, it is true. There was an attack on our people at about 4:00 pm this evening.
“Fourteen natives were ambushed and killed by suspected terrorists, while three others were injured on their way from Bokkos Market to Mangor Village of Bokkos LG.”
Mallai also reported that security forces had taken charge of the area to safeguard the safety of the community.
According to him, the terrorists‘ attack followed another event earlier in the day, in which a mobile police officer was killed on duty.
Prior to his murder, the police officer was stationed at a checkpoint on Richa Road in the same Bokkos LG.
Mallai described the circumstances as “very unfortunate.”
“Our hearts are bleeding because early this morning, on 24th July, 2015, a MOPOL was killed at his duty post (checkpoint) along Richa Road, Bokkos LGA. This is what happened in Bokkos today,” he said.
Amalau Amalau, the chairman of the Bokkos Local Government Area, confirming the attacks, described the situation as an “emergency.”
He said, “I’m driving. We have an emergency in Bokkos following attacks on our people.
“Right now, we are taking the victims to the Jos University Teaching Hospital. Let’s talk later, please,” the chairman told our correspondent.
Alabo Alfred, the Plateau State Police Command spokesman, was unavailable when approached about the incident because his phone was turned off.
According to sources at the command headquarters, more security personnel have been sent to the problematic council region to help manage the situation.
In different comments, other citizens decried the killings by the terrorists and urged the federal government to heed calls to form state police.
“Many state governments have been pleading with the federal government to allow them to have state police.
“I think the time has come for the Federal Government and the National Assembly to do something urgent in this regard, to stop further loss of lives in Plateau State and other parts of the country,” a resident of Barkin Ladi, Choji Bulus, said.
