Photo Gov Caleb Mutfwang
By Deborah Nnamdi
No fewer than 15 persons have been killed by suspected tribal militias in Bokkos Local Local Government Area of Plateau state.
Five persons were killed in Rafut village in the Kwatas district in the latest attack that occurred on Monday night.
Residents said the gunmen first ambushed four young men who were guarding their family’s homes in the village, killing them on the spot, before storming the compound and killing an elderly man before fleeing the scene.
Confirming Monday night’s attack, the Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council, Farmasum Fuddang, said in a statement made available to newsmen, “With deep sadness, we wish to report that our communities have once again fallen victim to violence, with five of our members confirmed dead following an attack yesterday October 14.
“This tragic incident comes on the heels of a week marked by bloody attacks, during which we buried over ten members of our community: five in Wumat on October 7, four in Kuba on October 10, one in Maikatako on October 11, and another on October 12.
“Despite credible warnings by a reputable media outlet on October 12, terrorists, identified by witnesses as members of the Fulani tribe, launched a brutal attack on the village of Rafut in the Kwatas district shortly after 7 PM on October 14.
“This unprovoked assault occurred even after a security meeting with police and military authorities in Bokkos on October 13. More worrisome is the fact that it occurred mere hours after residents of Rafut reached out to police authorities reporting suspicious activity by Fulani groups in the area.
“This situation underscores our urgent calls for the establishment of a civilian joint task force.
A joint task force would facilitate better intelligence sharing, eliminate misunderstandings, and significantly reduce response times during future invasions.
“We urge everyone to take personal responsibility for their security. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of the victims of the Rafut attack,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the police in the state are yet to comment on the issue, with its spokesman of the command, Alabo Alfred, failing to respond to calls at the time of filing this report.
