Five feared dead as gunmen attack Plateau community -

Gunmen have again killed five persons in a fresh attack on the Bokkos Local Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Newsmen gathered that the residents of Rafut village in the Kwatas district where the attack took place on Monday night said the gunmen first ambushed four young men who were guarding their family’s homes in the village and killed them on the spot.

They added that the attackers thereafter stormed the compound and killed an elderly man before they fled the area, bringing the total fatalities to five.

The killings occurred shortly after a security meeting with stakeholders in the locality.

The Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council, Farmasum Fuddang, confirmed the killings on Tuesday in a statement he jointly signed with the association’s secretary, Duwam Bosco.

The statement, titled, “Another Tragic Attack Claims Five Lives in Bokkos Despite Advance Warnings”, read, “With deep sadness, we wish to report that our communities have once again fallen victim to violence, with five of our members confirmed dead following an attack yesterday, October 14. This tragic incident comes on the heels of a week marked by bloody attacks, during which we buried over 10 members of our community: five in Wumat on October 7, four in Kuba on October 10, one in Maikatako on October 11, and another on October 12.

“Additionally, we have endured numerous assaults in the previous month, including six fatalities in Daffo on September 3; two in Tarangol on the same day; five in Mbar on September 16 and two in Kop Mandarken on September 27. Despite credible warnings by a reputable media outlet on October 12, terrorists, identified by witnesses as members of the Fulani tribe, launched a brutal attack on the village of Rafut in the Kwatas district shortly after 7 PM on October 14. This unprovoked assault occurred even after a security meeting with the police and military authorities in Bokkos on October 13. Four young men, who were out guarding their family’s home, were tragically ambushed as they stood watch.

“The attackers thereafter stormed the compound, killing an elderly man, bringing the total fatalities to five. Just a day prior, another young man was attacked while riding his motorcycle near Maikatako, further highlighting the escalating violence in our region.”

We commend the swift action taken by the military, which resulted in the rescue of Yelwa Sunday Mashat, who is currently recovering from severe injuries sustained during the attack. We also acknowledge the apprehension of several suspects and large cattle herds they drove into the road to block the victim.”

The community leaders stated that they observed the attack on Rafut “with deep regret” because it occurred despite warnings identifying those areas as at risk.

They lamented, “More worrisome is the fact that it occurred mere hours after residents of Rafut reached out to the police authorities reporting suspicious activities by Fulani groups in the area. Similar intelligence was shared shortly after the Wumat attack on October 7, including names of identified suspects, who still roam free.”

The statement demanded an urgent establishment of a civilian task force to address future occurrences, stating, “This situation underscores our urgent calls for the establishment of a civilian joint task force. The absence of such a group has deterred community members from participating in neighbourhood watch initiatives, particularly given past instances where individuals defending their communities were arrested or shot by military personnel.

“A joint task force would facilitate better intelligence sharing, eliminate misunderstandings, and significantly reduce response times during future invasions. While we recognize the military’s vital role in safeguarding lives and property, we understand the manpower and logistical challenges faced by troops. Therefore, we reiterate our request for assistance, as local residents possess invaluable knowledge of the terrain and can better support military efforts.

“This serves as a record for any intent to raid or arrest community members who are risking their lives to defend our communities. We assure our members of our commitment to providing legal and diplomatic support to anyone legitimately exercising their right to self-defence. We urge everyone to take personal responsibility for their security. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of the victims of the Rafut attack. We call upon the government to take responsibility for the medical treatment of the injured. We again call for the arrest of Sale Yusuf, Yusuf Adamu, Umar Ori, and Muhammad Gorte for their roles in previous threats in the area.”

The Plateau State Police Command has yet to make a public statement regarding the killings. When contacted, the spokesman for the command, Alabo Alfred, did not respond to calls as of the time of filling this report.

But reacting to the incident, the state government condemned the attacks.

The state Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, said it was unfortunate that some unscrupulous elements would attack communities at a time when the government was doing everything possible to ensure the return of permanent peace in the state.

Calling on the security agents to go after the perpetrators, the commissioner said, “It’s unfortunate that at a time when we are witnessing the return of peace and calm, some unscrupulous elements will attack communities. It’s quite unfortunate. The government frowns upon it and we pray that the security apparatchik will arrest those behind the dastardly act.”