Renewed violence in Plateau State has claimed the lives of several individuals in a series of brutal incidents across Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas.
On Tuesday, four herders and nine cows were reportedly killed, and multiple houses were set ablaze. This followed closely on the heels of another deadly attack in the Kopmur community of Mushere District, Bokkos, where seven members of a single family were murdered.
The spate of attacks has left at least five others injured, including women, who are currently receiving treatment in Bokkos. The recent killings have deepened the atmosphere of fear and instability in the region.
Earlier in the week, suspected kidnappers murdered Reverend Mikang Lekyil in Kwakas, a crime that was allegedly followed by the burning of a Fulani settlement in the Dingak community. These violent events, coming in quick succession, have sparked renewed ethnic and communal tensions in the state, which has long struggled with conflict between farming and herding communities.
Confirming the incidents, the Plateau State chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, said one of the attacks occurred in Tangoron, Bassa LGA, and the other in Mushere, Bokkos LGA. He stated that gunmen killed a herder and shot at grazing cattle, killing nine. Babayo added that he had personally visited the affected areas and reported the incidents to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and the state police command, both of whom urged the public to remain calm.
In response to the violence, the state chairman of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN), Garba Abdullahi, strongly condemned the killings and called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation. He emphasized the need to apprehend and prosecute those responsible. Despite the urgency of the situation, spokespersons for Operation Safe Haven and the Plateau State Police Command had not responded to inquiries from Daily Trust at the time of reporting.
However, contrasting views emerged from local community leaders. The Chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC), Farmasum Fuddang, questioned the claims of herder casualties in Mushere Central. “If such an incident occurred, they should report it to the appropriate security agencies. Making such claims only points to their culpability in previous attacks on our people,” he said, suggesting that the narrative could be an attempt to distract from prior assaults on farming communities allegedly carried out by herders.
Plateau State has a long and troubled history of conflict between herders and farmers, often fueled by land disputes, ethnic tensions, and retaliatory violence. The recent escalation in Bokkos and Bassa underscores the fragile peace in the region and the urgent need for lasting solutions. With both sides blaming each other for unprovoked attacks, community leaders and government authorities face growing pressure to restore order and prevent further bloodshed.
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