A deadly attack has left ten people dead in the Ruwi community of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, after gunmen stormed a mourning gathering late Thursday night.
The assailants, who targeted a group of mourners at a deceased family’s residence, struck around 10 p.m., taking the victims by surprise. Eyewitnesses recounted that seven women were brutally killed with machetes, while three men also lost their lives. Additionally, two women sustained serious injuries during the onslaught.
Confirming the attack, Mr. Kefas Mallai, Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, told The PUNCH on Friday that the gunmen exploited the mourners’ vulnerability. He stated that security operatives were alerted, but by the time they arrived, the attackers had already fled.
“It happened around 10 p.m. on March 27, 2025, in Ruwi community. The victims were mostly women who had gathered to mourn the loss of a loved one who died of natural causes. They were merely observing our tradition of keeping vigil and offering support to the bereaved family,” Mallai explained.
He expressed deep concern that the attackers, identified as suspected herders, targeted the unarmed and grieving individuals, describing the assault as a deliberate act of cruelty. He noted that the attack has plunged the community into mourning, with residents struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
Despite the magnitude of the incident, Mallai confirmed that there had been no retaliatory actions from the community. However, he noted that tensions remain high, with residents of Bokkos town maintaining calm while those in the affected area gather to grieve their losses.
Efforts to reach Alabo Alfred, the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, proved futile as his phone was switched off at the time of reporting.
This brutal attack comes just days after a peace stakeholders’ meeting between farmers and herders in the region, where both parties had pledged to maintain peace and avoid clashes. The latest violence raises concerns about renewed hostilities and the safety of rural communities in Plateau State.
