Death toll from the repeated attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State has risen to above 60 following the recovery of 40 more bodies in the bushes on Wednesday and Thursday night.
PlateauNewsWatch had reported on recent attacks in some communities in the council carried out by suspected Fulani militias on Wednesday and Thursday where 11 and 10 people were killed respectively.
In the first attack on Wednesday, April 2 in Ruwi community, the gunmen had killed 11 mourners who were observing a wake-keep of a dead relative.
The following day, the bandits also invaded and attacked across several communities including Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai, where they reportedly killed 10 people.
However, the Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, Farmasum Fuddang, who spoke to journalists on Friday in Jos, the dead toll had risen from the earlier reported 21 to over 60 after additional bodies were discovered in the bushes.
“We released the statement about the killing of 10 people in Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai on Wednesday morning. Since then, we have recovered 40 more bodies,” Fuddang said.
“We even buried them around 7pm on Thursday using torchlights. It was the community members who discovered the bodies of their loved ones,” the BCDC chairman added.
In a related development, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) which is responsible for maintaining peace in Plateau State, have successfully foiled attacks by armed groups on several communities in the same Bokkos LGA.
Spokesman of the OPSH, Major Samson Zakhom, in a press statement made available to journalists in Jos, said that the militants had targeted Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Tadai, and Hurti but were overpowered by the troops.
The attackers, according to Zakhom, were forced to abandon key items, including an AK-47 rifle and six motorcycles.
He added that traces of blood were found along the attackers’ retreat route, indicating possible casualties among them.
“On April 3, 2025, further clearance operations were carried out at Hurti, where troops encountered and engaged militants hiding in the mountainous region,” he said.
“The ensuing confrontation resulted in the recovery of a locally fabricated pistol, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, and four motorcycles.
“The troops are continuing efforts to neutralize the remaining militants still at large in the area.
“In a separate operation on the same day, troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Gashish, conducted a search at a hideout in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, recovering a fabricated revolver rifle, 7.62mm ammunition, and a significant sum of cash, although the suspects managed to escape.
“Additionally, in Wase LGA, troops, in collaboration with local vigilantes, neutralized one bandit and recovered an AK-47 magazine and a motorcycle during an operation targeting bandits along Kampani Zurak Road.
“Operations will continue as part of the ongoing efforts to safeguard communities in Plateau State.”
