Fresh Plateau Attack Leaves 18 Dead, Several Injured

At least 18 people have been confirmed dead after gunmen launched coordinated attacks on Kawel and Kopkon communities in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Global Mirror News learnt that the attack, which reportedly began late Sunday night, June 21, threw the affected communities into panic as residents fled for safety. Several other people were said to have sustained injuries during the invasion.

Christopher Luka, the Bokkos Youth Leader, confirmed the incident, saying he received a distress call shortly after midnight from a youth leader in the area.

According to him, the caller reported that armed men had stormed the communities and shot several residents.

“A youth leader called around 12 a.m. that gunmen attacked the community and shot over 20 people, so 18 were confirmed dead,” Luka said.

He explained that he immediately alerted security personnel stationed in Bokkos, who told him they had also received information about the attack and were moving to the affected area.

Security sources said troops under Operation Enduring Peace later responded to the distress calls and recovered 12 bodies in Kawel village and six others in Kopkon community, bringing the death toll to 18.

The assailants were said to have opened fire on residents before fleeing as security operatives advanced towards the communities. A search operation has reportedly been launched in surrounding areas to track down those responsible.

The latest violence comes less than five days after the District Head of Gwande in Bokkos LGA, Saf Samuel Alaket, was killed in an ambush along the Sha District axis near Daffo community.

Alaket was reportedly returning home after attending a traditional council meeting when gunmen attacked him.

Luka described the latest attack as unprovoked and urged security agencies to take decisive action to prevent further loss of lives in vulnerable communities across Bokkos.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the attack.

Global Mirror News reports that the renewed killings have heightened fears among residents of Bokkos, where communities have faced repeated attacks in recent times.