No fewer than five persons were killed in a fresh attack by gunmen in the Mbar community of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, on Monday. According to a statement issued by the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, signed by its chairman, Farmasum Fuddang, and its secretary, Duwam Bosco, the group reported that despite prior intelligence of suspected terrorists entering the area, the gunmen still launched an attack on the community.
The group stated that the unarmed youths were attacked while travelling from Mbar town to Koh village along a bypass near Yelwa Nono village by bandits on motorcycles. The terrorists had initially been repelled by the military from nearby mountains.
“By the time security forces were informed about the attack and arrived at the scene several minutes later, the terrorists had completed their mission and fled without being apprehended. This incident adds to a series of armed attacks in our villages, including the recent killing of 11 youths in Tarangol, Daffo, and Bargesh villages in September.
“We perceive these unprovoked attacks as a calculated attempt to evict our people from their ancestral homes and take over the land. We request to be involved in addressing the threats to our land, working in synergy with security forces, as is the case with the civilian joint task force in the northeast and northwest regions.”
The group further requested the involvement of local community members in securing the areas, noting that this is imperative because the natives are familiar with the terrain, which could assist security agencies.
