Plateau attacks: Death toll hits 60 in one week

The death toll from the recent attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State has risen to 60, following the recovery of 40 more bodies on Wednesday and Thursday night.

DAILY POST recalls that 10 people were killed in Ruwi village of the aforementioned local government on March 27, 2025, while another 10 were killed on April 2, 2025, in a coordinated attack across several communities, including Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai.

However, the Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, Farmasum Fuddang, confirmed in a telephone interview on Friday morning in Jos that additional bodies had been found.

“We released the statement about the killing of 10 people in Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai on Wednesday morning. Since then, we have recovered 40 more bodies. We even buried them around 7 PM on Thursday using torchlights. It was the community members who discovered the bodies of their loved ones,” the BCDC chairman disclosed.

The tragic incident, allegedly carried out by yet-to-be-identified gunmen, has left the residents of Bokkos in mourning and fear.

Meanwhile, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH), responsible for maintaining peace in Plateau State, reported that they successfully foiled attacks by armed groups on several communities in Bokkos LGA.

OPSH Spokesman, Major Samson Zakhom, in a press statement made available to journalists in Jos, said that the militants targeted Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Tadai, and Hurti but were overpowered by the troops. The attackers were forced to abandon key items, including an AK-47 rifle and six motorcycles.

He noted that traces of blood were found along the attackers' retreat route, indicating possible casualties among them.

“On April 3, 2025, further clearance operations were carried out at Hurti, where troops encountered and engaged militants hiding in the mountainous region,” he stated.

According to him, “The ensuing confrontation resulted in the recovery of a locally fabricated pistol, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, and four motorcycles.

“The troops are continuing efforts to neutralize the remaining militants still at large in the area,” he added.

He further disclosed that: “In a separate operation on the same day, troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Gashish conducted a search at a hideout in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, recovering a fabricated revolver rifle, 7.62mm ammunition, and a significant sum of cash, although the suspects managed to escape.

“Additionally, in Wase LGA, troops, in collaboration with local vigilantes, neutralized one bandit and recovered an AK-47 magazine and a motorcycle during an operation targeting bandits along Kampani Zurak Road.

“Operations will continue as part of the ongoing efforts to safeguard communities in Plateau State.”

At the time of filing this report, neither the OPSH nor the Police had provided any official casualty figures from the Bokkos attacks.