Gunmen Kill 21 Residents in Plateau Community
Gunmen Kill 21 Residents in Plateau Community
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in the early hours of yesterday killed 21 people and injured several others in what residents described as an unprovoked attack on Kawel village in Mushere Kingdom, Bokkos Local Council of Plateau State.
Newera News gathered that the attack occurred late on Sunday night while community members were asleep. A resident of Mushere Kingdom, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the manner in which the attackers struck and operated without resistance or an effective security response underscored the worsening insecurity in the state.
Another resident, Malo Bitrus, told Newera News Correspondent that the gunmen stormed the village at about 11:40 p.m., shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee for safety.
He said more than 21 people were killed in the attack.
Confirming the incident, Bokkos Youth Leader, Christopher Luka, said the attackers invaded the community and opened fire on residents.
According to him, information about the attack reached local youth leaders shortly after midnight.
“A youth leader called around 12:10 a.m. and reported that gunmen attacked the community and shot several persons. So far, 21 deaths have been confirmed,” he said.
Luka explained that immediately after receiving the information, he alerted security personnel stationed in Bokkos.
“I contacted security personnel, and they confirmed that they had received information about the incident and were moving to the affected community,” he added.
He described the attack as unprovoked and called on security agencies to intensify efforts to prevent further violence and improve protection for vulnerable communities.
The latest incident occurred less than five days after the killing of the District Head of Gwande in Bokkos Local Council, Saf Samuel Alaket, who was reportedly attacked along the Sha District axis bordering Daffo community while returning from a traditional council meeting.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful.
However, the spokesperson for Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, told The Guardian that he would provide details later.
“I have not received any information about the incident. I will brief you if there is anything like that,” Oteh said.
