Following attacks by Fulani militia on some villages in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State between eve of Christmas and Monday morning, the death toll from the incident has risen to 145.
The terrorists reportedly killed 113 persons in 20 villages in Bokkos Local Government Area and 32 in three villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
The hardest-hit villages on Christmas Eve include Makabat, Mbar, Tahore, Sanyang, Daress Mandar, Hurum, Danbukur, Maiyanga, NTV and Tudun Mazat. In these villages, numerous houses were burned, and residents were displaced.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Monday Kassah, confirmed the attacks on the villages.
Spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, Captain Oya James, who confirmed the incident, said the attack took place while residents of the community were asleep.
“Following the attack, security personnel were deployed to prevent any breakdown of law and order in the area. There was uprising after the incident but the situation has been brought under control,” Captain James had said. The attacks were well coordinated; not fewer than 20 different communities were attacked by the bandits.
“As I am talking to you, we have recovered 113 dead bodies from those communities. We have recovered more than 300 injured; some were taken to hospitals in Jos and some to a hospital in Barkin Ladi while others have been taken hospitals in Bokkos.
“The security personnel have been doing their best; the difficult terrain reaching those communities made the security not to reach there on time to prevent those attacks.”
A humanitarian worker who spoke in confidence said they counted over 180 dead bodies from the attacks.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Bokkos LGA, Kassah, told journalists on Christmas Day that 113 bodies were recovered from the attacks.
“The attacks were well coordinated, no fewer than 20 different communities were attacked by the bandits.
“As I am talking to you, we have recovered 113 dead bodies from those communities. We have recovered more than three hundred injured; some were taken to hospitals in Jos, some to hospitals in Barkin Ladi and others have been taken to hospitals in Bokkos.
“The security personnel have been doing their best, the difficult terrain reaching those communities has made the security not reaching there on time to prevent those communities,” Kassah stated.
However, the chairman of Barikin LGA, Danuma Dakil, said on same Christmas Day that the attackers killed 32 persons and burnt many houses in three villages in his Local Government Area.
Dakil further stated that the search for more bodies was ongoing.
The attack in Gwana started at 10 pm local time said a local Pastor, Reverend Danjuma Mandik, stating that the majority of the residents were in their homes sleeping amid low temperatures approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
“We had just finished our evening devotion when we heard gunshots,” said Mandik in a telephone interview.
“The entire village was instantly thrown into confusion with people running for their lives in different directions,” Mandik said.
“Those that fled escaped but those that remained in their houses were killed,” he said, adding the victims were members of a family.
The victims were members of the Mwagavul ethnicity, predominantly located in the adjacent Mangu county, as disclosed by Jethro Jacob, a tribal youth leader said.
The Mwagavul ethnic group, part of the Chadic language family and consisting of over 500,000 members, includes influential figures in Plateau State, such as Governor Mutfwang.
On May 16 and the days following, more than 350 Mwagavul members were killed by Fulani militants in Mangu. Over 80,000 others were displaced, according to town leaders.
The attacks followed just two months after Mutfwang’s election as Governor, heightening concerns of ethnic targeting for political and religious dominance by the chiefly Fulani ethnic group. This apprehension was exacerbated by a prior call from a prominent Muslim cleric urging Muslims to vote against Mutfwang, citing religious and ethnic considerations.
Since October 18, an additional 50 residents of Mangu have been killed in the ongoing attacks, according to Jacob who said the tribe in control of Gwana may have been singled out as part of the persisting ethnic persecution carried out by the Fulani.
“The same thing is what they are doing to other non-Muslim ethnic groups in the surrounding areas,” he said.
Fulani leaders could not be reached by phone for comments.
In a statement on December 24, Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the attack in Gwana as ‘unacceptable’, and expressed concern terrorists often escape Justice.
Meanwhile, Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attacks, describing them as unacceptable, barbaric, brutal and uncalled for, expressing concern that terrorists often escape justice.
The Governor, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, on Sunday, said the Governor directed security agencies to “promptly apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the heinous acts and ensure they face the full force of the law.”
Bare said the Governor expressed deep concern over the incident, urging communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security forces for immediate action.
The statement added, “On the importance of collective collaboration among rural communities, the governor assured that proactive measures would be taken by the government to curb the ongoing attacks on innocent citizens. He sympathised with affected families and urged them to find solace in God as the government diligently works to end the prolonged violence.
“The Governor questioned the impunity of the attackers who inflict harm on communities, destroy property, and evade justice.”
Yet, two hours after the Governor’s statement at 2pm local time, terrorists resumed hostilities shooting and setting fire to houses in at least ten villages in the surrounding areas.
The attacks continuing to the morning of December 25 forced residents, including children, to flee on foot amid worsening weather.
A TruthNigeria reporter, native to the area, shared that his mother slept in a dry stream, while his siblings joined 20 civilian volunteers to defend their village. By the morning of December 25, at least 20 people were confirmed killed, five in the reporter’s village Butura Kampani, with others still missing.
With additional Reports by Daily Trust & TruthNigeria
