At least four persons, including a woman, were shot dead on Wednesday in Ding’ak, a community under Mushere district in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, sparking renewed fears among residents over escalating insecurity in the area.
A community representative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the victims were killed by armed Fulani militia members who have allegedly been terrorising Mushere and surrounding communities in recent times.
According to the source, three of the victims were young men from the same family, while the fourth victim, a woman, was also a resident of the community.
How the Attack Unfolded
The source explained that the attack occurred when about eight men from Ding’ak village returned to the community to slaughter some of their pigs while they were in the process of packing their belongings. During the activity, they suddenly heard gunshots.
Unbeknownst to most of them, armed men had already taken strategic positions around the area.
“Some of the younger men had earlier sighted armed Fulani men carrying guns and immediately went into hiding,” the source said. “Unfortunately, they did not get the chance to warn the others.”
Moments later, the armed men reportedly opened fire on the unsuspecting villagers.
“When the attackers saw the other men, they shot them on sight. The woman was killed in a different location within the same community,” the source added.
After the gunmen retreated, the younger men who had earlier hidden emerged and narrated what they had seen, confirming that the attackers were armed Fulani militia members.
Disturbing Aftermath
The source expressed deep anger over what he described as a disturbing incident that followed the killings.
According to him, a man of Fulani origin reportedly went to the father of the three deceased young men to inform him that armed Fulani attackers had killed his children.
“Why would someone do that? What exactly was his intention?” the source asked in frustration.
Residents Decry Security Response
Community members said the incident has once again highlighted what they perceive as the failure of security agencies to proactively protect lives in the area.
The source disclosed that the community alerted officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Mushere following the attack, and that the local chairman had promised to take action.
However, residents complained that their repeated reports to security authorities often yield little or no response.
“We report these attacks again and again. They wait for us to come and complain, yet nothing happens afterward. It feels like our lives don’t matter, like people are being killed the way animals are killed,” the source lamented.
The attack adds to a growing list of violent incidents in Bokkos LGA and other parts of Plateau State, where communities have repeatedly called on the government and security agencies to strengthen protection and prevent further loss of lives.
