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31 killed by Fulani militia in eight Plateau communities in one month

31 people were killed in eight communities of Plateau State in about one month

An investigative report carried out by Punch Newspaper has revealed that no fewer than 31 people were killed in eight communities of Plateau State in about one month of sustained attacks by Fulani militia.

The report noted that in just about five weeks, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State has witnessed more than 10 attacks in eight of its communities with the dastardly attacks leaving at least 31 persons dead and several others injured.

“These renewed attacks mostly targeted communities where the inhabitants are mostly farmers struggling to rebuild their lives after years of similar violence were visited on them by gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits and terrorists,” the report said.

“While it is true that the deployment of security operatives to the affected local government area and the occasional engagement with stakeholders have helped to check further escalation of violence in the Council area, the renewed attacks and killings in the communities have left many wondering what has gone wrong again

“Trouble started when gunmen attacked Daffo village in Bokkos LGA on September 3, 2024, and killed six persons. That same day, the assailants moved to the neighbouring Tarangol community and killed two persons before they disappeared through the bushes.

“A resident of the area, John Magaji, said the two communities were left shattered by the incidents while the victims were given a mass burial thereafter.

“On September 16, the yet-to-be-identified assailants returned to the Mbar community and killed five persons. After about a week, the dare-devil killers also went to Kop Mandarken to kill two persons this time.

“As if that was not enough, the council area equally buried ten of it’s community members within three days after they were killed by these daring gunmen in separate attacks.

“While five were killed in Wumat village, on October 7, four were killed in Kuba on October 10, another one in Maikatako on October 11, and yet another one on October 12.

“In another incident, on October 14, four young men, who were out guarding their family home in the village of Rafut at the Kwatas district, were tragically ambushed and killed by some gunmen shortly after 7 p.m

“The attackers, thereafter, stormed the compound, killing an elderly man, bringing the total fatalities to five on the same day.

“Prior to the October 14 attack, another young man was attacked while riding on his motorcycle near Maikatako, further highlighting the escalating violence in the area.

“Following these attacks, villagers, especially those who recently returned to their communities, have continued to express fear over their safety.”

One of the residents in the Mbar community, Rhoda Michael, lamented that the gunmen have returned with their unchecked attacks in the Council area

“We live in constant fear in Bokkos LGA. The question is: why are the killings and attacks focused on Bokkos? It is as if the people in the council area, especially those of us living in the remote villages, have been abandoned and left at the mercy of gunmen.

“In other local governments, I don’t know what their security situation is, but the situation in Bokkos is worrisome with the constant attacks and killing of innocent people by gunmen.”

Another villager in Kwatas district of the LGA, Timothy Bulus, whose brother was among those killed, observed that many of the villages are surrounded by the gunmen who masquerade as herders to attack the innocent residents.

“We have been saying that some of the villages are still not safe. There are some places you can not go unless you want to die because the gunmen will just come from nowhere and attack you.

“Some of the villagers are yet to return to their ancestral homes after they were chased away from their homes initially.

“The people want to return and continue with their farming to be able to feed themselves and their families, but the fear of gunmen attacks will not allow them to do that. That is our problem,” Timothy bemoaned.

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