BOKKOS — A cloud of grief hangs over Mbwelle village in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State today following a brutal midnight raid that left eight people dead, most of whom were members of a single family.
The victims were laid to rest in a somber mass burial on Friday, April 10, as community members and religious leaders gathered around fresh graves to mourn the latest victims of the region’s relentless violence.
The Midnight Massacre
Gunmen, identified by locals as Fulani militants, reportedly stormed the community around 11:00 p.m. on Thursday. Witnesses described an hour of terror as the attackers moved through the village, firing indiscriminately. By the time security forces arrived, the assailants had already vanished into the darkness, leaving behind a trail of blood and shattered homes.
Among those killed were Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus and seven other members of the Dakus family, including women and young men. Images from the burial site showed a clergyman kneeling beside bodies wrapped in blood-stained shrouds—a scene that has become tragically common in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
“Enough is Enough”
Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, a prominent local cleric, confirmed the killings and led the funeral rites. In a fiery address, he vowed to continue speaking out for his people despite the overwhelming grief. “The graves are fresh, and the homes are silent,” Dachomo said, echoing the sentiment of a community that feels abandoned by the state.
Local leaders, including Kefas Mallai of the Community Peace Observers, blasted the delayed response of the military and police. They noted that despite distress calls being made during the hour-long assault, help only arrived after the carnage was over. The recurring failure of the security agencies has led to a dangerous shift in rhetoric, with many residents now openly stating that if the government cannot protect them, survival will depend on self-defence.
Suspects in Custody
The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of eight suspects in connection with the raid. Police spokesperson SP Alfred Alabo stated that the individuals were apprehended following tips from the community and are currently being interrogated at the State Criminal Investigation Department.
While the arrests offer a glimmer of hope for justice, the atmosphere in Bokkos remains explosive. The “slow-motion genocide” described by international observers is no longer a headline for these villagers—it is a daily reality that is pushing the region toward the brink of total anarchy.
