Women, Babies Killed in Fresh Plateau Attack

At least 14 people, including women and infants, were killed Thursday evening in a fresh attack in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, in what appears to be a resurgence of violence in the region.

The victims were reportedly ambushed by gunmen along Chirang Road in the Mangor District while returning from the weekly market in Bokkos town. Eyewitnesses and local groups say the attackers opened fire on a vehicle carrying the passengers, killing most of them at the scene.

The Bokkos Cultural Development Forum (BCDF) condemned the attack, describing it as a setback to ongoing peace efforts in the area. BCDF Chairman, Farmasum Fuddang, alleged that the assailants were from a specific ethnic group and accused them of orchestrating the violence as part of a broader plan to seize land and expand territorial control.

“The victims were returning from the weekly market when their vehicle was ambushed. Among them were women and babies. This attack is part of a pattern. Their goal is to take control of Bokkos, which is known as the potato headquarters of Nigeria,” Fuddang stated.

He also referenced ongoing incidents of village attacks and alleged land grabs in the Mushere area, claiming they form part of a coordinated campaign to dominate the region.

In response, the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN) refuted the accusations. Chairman Saleh Adamu called the claims “baseless,” stressing there was no evidence linking Fulani herders to the incident.

“No herder was arrested at the scene, and there is no evidence connecting Fulani to the attack,” Adamu said. “We condemn the killings and urge security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation. Innocent lives were lost, and justice must be pursued without resorting to ethnic scapegoating.”

The Plateau State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement as of the time of filing this report. However, community leaders are calling for increased security presence and swift justice to prevent further escalation of the crisis.

This latest attack comes on the heels of a similar tragedy last month, where several wedding guests from Kaduna State were killed by a mob in the same region, raising fresh concerns over rising insecurity and the fragility of inter-communal relations in Plateau State.