More than 40 people have been killed and over 1,000 displaced following a deadly attack by gunmen on communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, according to Mr. Maren Aradong, the Village Head of Hurti.
Mr. Aradong disclosed this during an assessment visit by a state government delegation led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Samuel Jatau, on Sunday in Jos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the coordinated attacks, which occurred on April 2, targeted several communities including Hurti, Josho, and Daffo.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has condemned the violence, describing it as an act of coordinated criminality orchestrated by “conflict merchants,” distancing it from the commonly attributed farmer-herder clashes.
Giving a detailed account of the incident, Aradong revealed that the assailants arrived on motorcycles around 3 p.m. and unleashed terror on the communities. In Hurti alone, over 40 people were killed, 1,000 displaced, and 383 houses were burnt. He added that the attackers also looted food supplies and household items.
“We were invaded by heavily armed gunmen. They came in their numbers, killed our people, razed homes, and carted away foodstuff,” Aradong said. He commended the swift response of security personnel but appealed for the deployment of more forces to protect the vulnerable communities.
Brigadier General Gagji Shipi (retired), the Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, described the incident as a major blow to ongoing peace efforts in the state. He assured residents that steps were being taken to prevent further attacks.
During the visit, SSG Jatau expressed the state government’s condolences to bereaved families and assured the displaced persons of continued support. He emphasized that the visit was to assess the damage first-hand and report to the governor.
“It is tragic that in this day and age, innocent citizens can be attacked so brutally,” Jatau said. “We want to reassure the affected communities that they are not alone. Relief is being provided, and long-term solutions are being explored.”
As part of immediate relief efforts, the government distributed essential supplies to displaced residents, including mattresses, sleeping mats, blankets, bags of rice, beans, maize, as well as cartons of soap, noodles, and pasta.
