At least 22 people have been killed following a deadly attack on Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, with health workers, patients, and security personnel reportedly among the victims.
According to The PUNCH, residents said heavily armed assailants stormed the community in the early hours of Sunday, opening fire on villagers and unleashing violence that left dozens dead and several others injured.
Confirming the incident, the Plateau State Police Command said the attack occurred around 4:40 a.m. and was carried out by armed hoodlums who invaded the community.
Police spokesperson, SP Alfred Alabo, stated that security operatives, including officers from the Bokkos Division and the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, responded swiftly and engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to flee the area.
According to the police, eighteen people were found dead at the scene, while three injured victims were rushed to hospital for treatment. Two of the injured later succumbed to their wounds, bringing the official death toll to 20.
“The Plateau State Police Command is deeply saddened by this tragic incident and remains committed to ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice,” Alabo said.
Commissioner of Police, CP Bassey Ewah, has ordered the deployment of additional tactical teams and Police Mobile Force personnel to the area to prevent further attacks and restore public confidence.
Meanwhile, local sources insist the casualty figure is higher than the official police count.
Bokkos Youth Leader, Christopher Luka, said fresh assessments showed that at least 22 people lost their lives in the attack.
“I visited the hospital and witnessed the situation firsthand. So far, 22 deaths have been recorded, including women. Among the victims were health workers and patients receiving treatment at the community hospital,” Luka said.
A Red Cross official involved in the emergency response disclosed that the attackers also stormed the community’s primary healthcare centre, where they allegedly shot health workers and patients.
“The victims include civilians and security personnel. Several others sustained gunshot and machete injuries and have been evacuated for treatment,” the official said.
Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos Local Government Area, Kefas Mallai, condemned the attack and described the situation in the community as tense and heartbreaking.
“It was in the early hours of the day that terrorists attacked Kawel village and killed about 22 people. Residents are mourning, while security personnel are conducting operations in surrounding forests in search of the attackers,” Mallai stated.
Military authorities acknowledged that a security breach occurred in the area. Spokesman for the military task force in Plateau State, Captain Chinonso Oteh, said troops had been deployed and that further details would be provided after a full briefing.
Security sources revealed that troops and other security personnel have intensified search operations in nearby bushes and forests as efforts continue to track down those responsible.
The latest attack comes less than a week after the killing of the District Head of Gwande, Saf Samuel Alaket, who was ambushed and killed while returning from a traditional council meeting in Bokkos Local Government Area.
