At least 15 people have lost their lives following renewed violence in Plateau State, as gunmen launched coordinated attacks on separate communities in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas on Thursday night.
According to reports, the tragic incidents occurred in Manja community, located in Chakfem Kingdom of Mangu LGA, and Tangur community in Bokkos LGA. Eyewitnesses disclosed that the assailants stormed the two areas at different times, unleashing mayhem on unsuspecting residents.
In the Tangur community of Bokkos, the gunmen reportedly struck around 9:00 p.m., at a time when most residents were preparing to go to bed. Meanwhile, the attack in Chakfem was said to have taken place earlier in the evening.
Locals revealed that the attackers operated for a considerable length of time in both communities, firing sporadically and invading homes before fleeing the scenes undetected. The motive behind the coordinated assaults remains unclear as of the time of reporting.
Confirming the incident, Shohotden Mathias Ibrahim, Director of Culture at the Mwaghavul Development Association and also the Director of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Pilot Science Camp in Mangu, stated that there is heightened tension in the affected communities. He confirmed that seven people were killed in the Chakfem (Mangu) attack alone.
Additionally, community sources in Bokkos confirmed that eight persons were killed in the Tangur incident, bringing the total death toll from both attacks to fifteen.
Residents are currently gripped by fear, with calls mounting for enhanced security presence in the volatile areas to prevent further loss of lives and displacement.
Meanwhile, the Plateau State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the latest incident as of the time this report was filed.
This attack follows closely after a similarly tragic incident reported by IREPORT247NEWS, on Tuesday night, June 10, in Chicim—a peaceful community near Mangu town. Armed assailants invaded Chicim around 10:00 p.m., killing at least eight individuals and wounding many others.
Survivors of the Chicim attack described a horrifying scene. According to Nankus Habila, a resident who narrowly escaped death, the gunmen arrived under the cover of darkness and opened fire without any warning. “They shot indiscriminately and spared no one. It was pure chaos,” he said.
The recurring violence has once again raised questions about the effectiveness of security measures in Plateau State and the vulnerability of rural communities across the region.