The death toll from coordinated attacks on several communities in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State has risen to 52, following the recovery of more bodies by search teams combing nearby bushes for missing persons.
The attacks, which occurred Wednesday night, targeted the communities of Mangor, Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai. Initial reports confirmed 10 deaths, but authorities have since uncovered additional casualties.
Chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Council, Farmasum Fuddang, confirmed the updated figures on Friday. He revealed that 31 victims were given a mass burial on Thursday, while five children were burnt to ashes in Hurti. Eleven more corpses were discovered in Ruwi, four in Manguna, and one in Dafo village.
In response, the Plateau State Government announced that several suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings. Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Joyce Ramnap, assured residents that security forces have been deployed to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
“Important arrests have been made by security agencies, and we are optimistic this will help stem the tide of violence,” she stated. “Governor Caleb Mutfwang is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all Plateau residents.”
Ramnap urged the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies, emphasizing the need for peace, unity, and lawful conduct.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar blamed the tragic incident on the failure of the current security architecture under President Bola Tinubu, describing the widespread killings as a national epidemic.
“The failure of Bola Tinubu’s security architecture has now become an endemic nationwide phenomenon, with repeated killings—many of which don’t even make the headlines,” Atiku wrote. He called for a complete overhaul of the country’s security system to better protect lives and property.
Similarly, a former House of Representatives member from Plateau State, Dachung Bagos, described the killings as barbaric. He renewed calls for the establishment of state and community policing to better address localized security threats.
Bagos, in a statement by his media aide, Dafwam Yaks, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, particularly the killing of 12 persons in Ruwi village. He urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of legislation creating state police and called on communities to unite in protecting themselves.
He also commiserated with the bereaved families, lamenting the long-term trauma and devastation inflicted on the affected communities.
