Terrorists attacked Mbwelle village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State late Thursday night, killing at least eight people in a shooting that went on for close to an hour.
It was gathered that most of those killed were from the same family.
The incident happened around 11pm when the armed men invaded the community and started shooting randomly at residents. About three people were also injured, while some residents are still nowhere to be found.
Those confirmed dead are Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus, Mr. Luck Titus Dakus, Mr. Habila Istifanu Dakus, Mr. Hassan Istifanus Dakus, Mrs. Hassan Moses Dakus, Biggie Lucky Dakus, Sunday Gideon Dakus, and Mr. Innocent Barnabas Makwin.
The Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos Local Government Area, Kefas Mallai, confirmed the attack and said it has caused serious tension in the area.
“The community is very close to Bokkos town.”
“The attack lasted for several hours with no visible security presence to repel the attackers,” he alleged.
Mallai also said people in the community are very angry over what they see as failure of security operatives to protect them, and they are planning to stage a protest.
He further alleged that security forces did not show up even though the area is very close, adding that officers are now being deployed to guard a particular community which locals in Bokkos believe is where the attackers came from.
Also speaking, the Youth Leader of Bokkos, Christopher Luka, confirmed the attack and described it as “a sad and devastating assault on the people of Bokkos and Plateau State as a whole.”
“The gunmen came around 11pm and started shooting sporadically.”
They targeted one family mostly. We have eight confirmed dead, some seriously injured, and others still unaccounted for,” Luka said.
