By Editor
The Bokkos Development Association has raised a fresh alarm over what it described as “renewed waves of targeted killings, farm destructions, and land occupation” in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In an official statement jointly signed by Farmusum Fuddung, Chairman, and Ambassador Duwam Bosco, Secretary, the association lamented the recent surge of attacks on innocent villagers by gunmen suspected to be armed Fulani militias.
According to the statement, over 15 people have been killed within weeks, with hundreds of acres of farmlands destroyed and entire villages displaced. The community also alleged that the attackers have occupied several seized farmlands and settlements, particularly in Mushere and surrounding areas.
“We have buried more than 15 members in recent isolated attacks. Our farmlands have been destroyed and villages taken over, while thousands remain displaced,” the group stated.
Among the tragic incidents listed, on October 25, three villagers traveling by motorcycle from Hurum to Ruku were ambushed, leaving two dead and one injured. A day earlier, on October 24, a family in Maikatako was attacked, killing one woman and kidnapping another.
On October 23, five persons were reportedly killed while taking refuge from rain after retrieving food from their abandoned farms in Mbor Mushere. Earlier on October 12, two people were slain in Rom village, with their livestock stolen.
The statement also recalled the ambush of the village head of Hurti, Maren Arandong, on September 24, which left him critically injured and two of his aides dead. It noted that three months earlier, over 50 people were killed in Hurti and nearby communities.
While condemning the continuous bloodshed, the association accused the Nigerian government of inaction and denial, saying authorities have “abandoned their responsibility to protect citizens while indulging in propaganda to maintain a positive image.”
“We demand decisive action against these atrocities and the recovery of our lands seized by terrorists. The government’s failure to act suggests complicity,” the association stressed.
The group further appealed to citizens to remain vigilant, urging community members to defend themselves within the bounds of the law to safeguard their lives and families.
“Our patience is exhausted. We can no longer rely on empty promises. We must take lawful steps to protect our people,” the statement added.
The association expressed gratitude to international supporters who continue to draw global attention to what it describes as an ongoing genocide against native communities in Bokkos and Plateau State.
