Fulani Bandits Kill Eight in Renewed Attack on Plateau Village
Suspected Fulani bandits have killed eight residents in Mbwelle Village, Kwatas District, Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, in what authorities described as a renewed wave of reprisal attacks.
The attack occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on April 9, according to security sources. The victims 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).
The incident was disclosed in a post on X by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security analyst focused on the Lake Chad region. Joint security forces responded to a distress call but did not encounter the attackers, who had fled the scene before their arrival. A security source attributed the delayed response to the distance—about 15 kilometres—between the troops’ base and the community, as well as difficult terrain.
All casualties, including those injured, were evacuated to Bokkos Cottage Hospital. Troops have since launched operations to track down the assailants.
The attack is part of a broader pattern of violence in Plateau State, where farmers and herders have clashed over land and resources for years. Recent months have seen a surge in attacks blamed on armed groups, often described as Fulani bandits, though authorities have not always confirmed their identities.
Security experts warn that reprisal attacks risk escalating tensions in the region. Community leaders have called for increased security presence and dialogue between farmers and herders to prevent further bloodshed.
Plateau State, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has long been a flashpoint for ethnic and religious conflict. The latest killings underscore the ongoing challenges in addressing insecurity and fostering peaceful coexistence in the area.
