At least ten people lost their lives on Wednesday as armed assailants launched coordinated attacks on five communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. The latest violence comes just six days after a deadly assault on Ruwi community, where ten individuals were killed and three others wounded while attending a wake-keep ceremony.

In a statement issued by the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) and signed by its chairman, Farmasum Fuddang, the organization decried the continued attacks, stating that the peaceful and hospitable people of Bokkos are under siege by terrorists attempting to seize their land and establish a caliphate.

“In just one week, we have lost over twenty community members to these marauding terrorists who are carrying out an orchestrated ethnic and religious cleansing in five villages,” the statement read.

The attack on April 2nd alone resulted in over ten fatalities. Survivors recounted that the assailants, who spoke the Fulani dialect, brazenly carried out the assaults in broad daylight. The attackers first struck Mangor Tamiso before advancing to Daffo, Manguna (Tagai), and later invading Hurti and Tadai.

Despite the tragic losses, the BCDC acknowledged the prompt intervention of security forces, whose swift response to distress calls helped to mitigate further casualties.

The organization further urged residents to remain vigilant and explore means of complementing security efforts to deter future attacks.

“The people of Bokkos must not be left vulnerable. While we appreciate the efforts of security agencies, they cannot be everywhere at once. At the very least, community members should equip themselves with legal means of self-defense to hold off attackers until reinforcements arrive. Anything less could prove fatal,” the statement warned.

The frequency of attacks in Bokkos LGA has sparked widespread concern, with affected communities calling on relevant authorities to take decisive action in ensuring lasting peace and security in the region.