Suspected Herdsmen Kill 25 in Plateau’s Bokkos Community Attack

At least 25 people died in a brutal overnight attack by suspected herdsmen on Kawel village in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The assault, which began around midnight last Sunday, saw attackers storm the community while residents slept, firing indiscriminately and causing panic.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as villagers fled into the surrounding bushes to escape the gunfire. The Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area, Samuel Amalau, confirmed the grim toll, stating that the assailants also invaded a Primary Health Care Centre, where four people were killed. While an initial report from a local youth leader suggested up to 30 deaths, Amalau clarified the official figure stands at 25, though a search for more victims was ongoing.

Residents recounted the horror, with one villager, Malo Bitrus, noting that bodies were still being recovered from the bushes hours after the attack. "The gunmen stormed the village at about 11:40 p.m., shooting sporadically. So far, 19 deaths have been confirmed, but the search continues," Bitrus said. The attack adds to a climate of fear, occurring less than a week after the killing of the District Head of Gwande, Saf Samuel Alaket, who was ambushed while returning from a meeting.

Security agencies have yet to release an official statement regarding the latest incident. However, local leaders are urgently calling for intervention to prevent further violence and protect vulnerable communities in the region. In a separate incident in Katsina State, Nigerian troops reportedly dismantled a terrorist enclave, killing two suspected terrorists and recovering arms and ammunition.

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The gunmen stormed the village at about 11:40 p.m., shooting sporadically. So far, 19 deaths have been confirmed, but the search continues.