10 feared killed in fresh Plateau crisis

10 persons have reportedly been feared killed when gunmen struck in Bokkos community on Friday night.

A source from the community said that a group of terrorists stormed Mandung-Mushu and Kopnanle villages to carry out the attacks.

Barr. Farmasum Fuddang, a member of the community, in a statement as Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, said: “Last night, April 12, our community in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau state faced a horrific attack resulting in the senseless slaughter of at least ten of our members.

“Despite the presence of security forces, including the DSS, army, and Police, the perpetrators were allowed to carry out their heinous acts with impunity.

“Under the cover of darkness, more than fifty armed terrorists descended upon the villages of Mandung-Mushu and Kopnanle, targeting innocent, unarmed, and peaceful residents as they slept.

“The assailants set fire to homes and a place of worship, mercilessly gunning down fleeing civilians while nearby soldiers failed to intervene effectively.

“This brazen attack, which predominantly targeted children, appears to be part of a calculated effort to instill fear and perpetrate further displacement within our communities.

“We condemn this act of terror, which we believe is aligned with a broader agenda to impose sharia law and seize control of our lands.

“Just hours before this tragedy unfolded, BCDC Vanguard submitted a petition to the Department of State Services (DSS), challenging a leaked memo that falsely accused our people of planning violence against Fulani residents.

“We unequivocally stated that the intelligence behind the memo was fabricated and defamatory.

“Despite our efforts to rectify these falsehoods, the security apparatus failed to protect our community from the very threats we highlighted.

“The DSS ignored these warnings and instead chose to implicate the victims.”