Tears as Plateau community buries eight attack victims

Eight people killed in Thursday night’s attack on Mbwelle village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State were buried on Friday in an emotional mass funeral filled with grief and renewed calls for vigilance.

The victims lost their lives around 11 pm when gunmen stormed the community and reportedly opened fire indiscriminately for nearly an hour.

Residents said the attack left families shattered, with most of those killed belonging to the same household.

Those laid to rest include Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus, Mr Luck Titus Dakus, Mr Habila Istifanu Dakus, Mr Hassan Istifanus Dakus, Mrs Hassan Moses Dakus, Biggie Lucky Dakus, Sunday Gideon Dakus and Mr Innocent Barnabas Makwin.

Mourners who gathered for the burial expressed deep sorrow over the incident and urged authorities and residents to remain alert as concerns over security persist in the area.

Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, who conducted the burial ceremony, addressed mourners at the graveside.

In his remarks, he said, “My fellow Christians, I will not stop calling on heaven because of our brothers and sisters who have been killed in Bokkos. These are people who were living peacefully without knowing that they would be killed today, without knowing that some people were planning to come and kill them, while we are busy thinking that we are living in peace with them.

“Most of the victims are Christ Apostolic church members. The other time, I was at the Catholic church in Kuru, and 90 per cent of the attack victims were catholic members. I have performed mass burials for COCIN members, ECWA members, and Pentecostal members. We are all in a dilemma.

He added, “With what is happening, they want to ensure that the people they have chosen for Plateau will be the ones at the helm of leadership in 2027 so that they will control.”

The cleric’s comments came as residents expressed anger over the attack.

Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, had earlier said the assault created tension in the community, noting that “the people are saying they want to protest because the security men have not protected them and the attack lasted for hours and yet, no presence of security to repel the assailants.”

Youth Leader of Bokkos, Christopher Luka, described the killings as “a sad and devastating assault on the people of Bokkos and Plateau State as a whole,” adding that the gunmen “targeted one family mostly.”

The burial took place amid ongoing security operations in the state.

Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE on Thursday neutralised ten terrorists in Wase and Kanam LGAs and recovered arms and logistics supplies.

Efforts to get a reaction from the Plateau State Police Command on the Mbwelle attack were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report

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