Military factions, locally known as “bandits,” orchestrated synchronized attacks across “not fewer than 20 different communities,” setting houses ablaze, reported Kassah. In a series of assaults on villages, armed groups have claimed the lives of at least 160 people in central Nigeria, as stated by local government officials on Monday. This figure sharply contrasts with the initial army report on Sunday evening, which indicated only 16 casualties in a region long plagued by religious and ethnic tensions.
Monday Kassah, head of the local government in Bokkos, Plateau State, informed AFP that the death toll had risen to 113 individuals as hostilities persisted from Saturday to early Monday. The attacks were described as “well-coordinated,” with the “bandits” targeting various communities and setting numerous houses on fire. Kassah also highlighted the discovery of over 300 wounded individuals, who were subsequently transferred to hospitals in Bokkos, Jos, and Barkin Ladi.
A provisional count by the local Red Cross reported 104 deaths in 18 villages in the Bokkos region, while an additional 50 people were reported dead in several villages in the Barkin Ladi area, according to Dickson Chollom, a member of the state parliament. Chollom condemned the attacks, urging swift action from security forces and emphasizing the collective pursuit of justice and lasting peace.
The attacks, originating in the Bokkos area, spilled over into neighboring Barkin Ladi, resulting in 30 people found dead, as reported by local chairman Danjuma Dakil. Plateau State governor Caleb Mutfwang denounced the violence as “barbaric, brutal, and unjustified,” pledging proactive measures to curb ongoing attacks against innocent civilians.
Gunfire continued into late Monday afternoon, according to a source from the region, located on the dividing line between Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north and mainly Christian south. A resident of Mushu village, Markus Amorudu, described the sudden attack while people were sleeping, leading to fear, fatalities, injuries, and captures by assailants.
Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian authorities for their failure to address frequent deadly attacks on rural communities in Plateau state in a post on social media. Northwest and central Nigeria have long struggled with bandit militias operating from forest bases, exacerbating tensions between nomadic herders and farmers. This competition for natural resources, compounded by rapid population growth and climate pressures, has heightened social tensions and sparked violence.
In addition to these challenges, a jihadist conflict has persisted in northeastern Nigeria since 2009, contributing to the complex security landscape. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, elected in February, has pledged to attract more investment to address Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
