The peace of Bokkos Local Government Area in Plateau State was violently shattered on Thursday, July 24, 2025, as armed men launched two separate but devastating attacks that left at least 14 villagers and a mobile police officer dead.
The incidents, which occurred hours apart, have reignited fears and heightened tension among residents in the region already plagued by a cycle of insecurity.
The day of horror began in the early morning hours when unidentified gunmen attacked a security checkpoint along Richa Road in Bokkos, killing a mobile police officer stationed at the post. The officer, deployed to maintain law and order in the area, was reportedly taken by surprise and shot dead at close range.
Confirming the tragic event, Mr. Kefas Mallai, Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, expressed deep sorrow over the attack, describing it as a painful loss and a dangerous signal of escalating insecurity in the region.
“Our hearts are bleeding,” he said. “In the early hours of Thursday, July 24, a mobile policeman was shot and killed at his duty post along Richa Road, right here in Bokkos. The attackers disappeared before backup could arrive. This is a dark day for us.”
The motive for the killing remains unclear, but residents believe it may have been a calculated effort to weaken the sense of security in the area and pave the way for the more deadly ambush that followed later that same day.
Later in the afternoon, around 4:00 p.m., a second attack occurred when a group of villagers returning from the popular Bokkos Market were ambushed by suspected terrorists. The victims, mostly from the Chirang community, were on their way back to Mangor village when they were waylaid along a rural path by the assailants.
Without warning, the gunmen opened fire on the unsuspecting villagers, killing 14 people on the spot. Three others who were part of the group sustained serious injuries and were rushed to medical facilities for treatment.
Speaking to The PUNCH, Mr. Mallai gave a chilling account of the massacre. “Yes, it is true. Our people were ambushed and slaughtered. Fourteen natives were killed while returning from Bokkos Market to Mangor village. Three others survived but are severely wounded,” he said. “It was a cruel and deliberate act.”
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers appeared to have laid in wait for the villagers, suggesting the ambush was premeditated. The victims had reportedly gone to trade in farm produce and purchase household essentials at the market, as is customary on market days in the region.
In the aftermath of the attacks, security forces were deployed to the affected areas in a bid to stabilize the situation and reassure the local population. Armed personnel have since taken control of the vicinity, conducting patrols and searching for suspects, although no arrests had been confirmed as of press time.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Council, Hon. Amalau Amalau, also confirmed the attacks and described the situation as an “emergency” requiring urgent intervention. Speaking while reportedly transporting the wounded to a hospital, Amalau conveyed the gravity of the moment.
“We are in the middle of an emergency in Bokkos,” he said. “We’re currently on our way to Jos University Teaching Hospital with the injured victims. Let’s speak later—this is a crisis.”
The twin attacks have once again exposed the fragile security landscape in Plateau State, a region that has witnessed recurrent episodes of ethnic, religious, and farmer-herder violence over the years. Despite several peace efforts and government security deployments, communities in parts of the state remain vulnerable to sudden and brutal attacks.
Local leaders and residents have expressed frustration over what they describe as the slow response of authorities to threats that are often flagged in advance. Calls are now growing louder for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and security agencies to implement a more robust, intelligence-led approach to ending the bloodshed.
As families mourn their loved ones and communities live in fear of another outbreak of violence, the attacks in Bokkos serve as yet another grim reminder of the urgent need to restore peace and security across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.