Plateau Attack: Eight Residents Killed in Night Raid on Bokkos Community as Security Forces Launch Manhunt

At least eight residents have been killed in a late-night attack on Mbwelle Village in Kwatas District, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, in what authorities describe as a fresh wave of reprisal violence in the region.

The attack occurred around 10:30 p.m. on April 9, according to security sources, leaving the community in shock and triggering renewed concerns over worsening insecurity in Plateau’s rural settlements.

The victims, all residents of the affected village, were identified as Habila Istifanus (38), Hassan Istifanus (31), Iliya Mangut (70), Sunday Gideon (31), Innocent Banabas (20), Lucky Titus (38), Wisdom Lucky (15), and Bwehsun Hassan (25).

Security analyst Zagazola Makama, who focuses on counter-insurgency developments in the Lake Chad region, first disclosed the incident in a post on X, drawing attention to the scale of the attack.

Joint security forces were reportedly alerted shortly after the assault but arrived at the scene after the attackers had already fled. No confrontation occurred during the response operation.

A security source attributed the delayed arrival of troops to the challenging terrain and the distance of about 15 kilometres between the military base and the affected community.

All victims, including those who sustained injuries during the attack, were evacuated to Bokkos Cottage Hospital for treatment.

Authorities have since launched a manhunt operation aimed at tracking down those responsible for the killings, as tension continues to rise in the area.

The incident adds to a growing pattern of rural attacks in parts of Plateau State, where communities have repeatedly come under assault despite ongoing security deployments.