In response to a recent surge of violent attacks, the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) has called for the establishment of a civilian joint task force in Plateau State to enhance local security. In a statement released by BCDC Vanguard, the council detailed the impact of multiple assaults over the past week that have resulted in at least 18 deaths across Bokkos and nearby areas.
The most recent incident involved a resident of Maikatako village who was killed in his front yard on Saturday evening. On the same night, four other individuals were reportedly killed in Tahoss, a Christian town in Riyom Local Government Area. The BCDC claimed these incidents, along with several other attacks earlier in the week, were carried out by armed assailants.
BCDC Chairman Barr. Farmasum Fuddang and Secretary Amb. Duwam Bosco, along with other council leaders, criticized what they described as a misleading narrative by certain Fulani leaders. They claimed that local Fulani leaders misrepresented the circumstances around recent violence, accusing the Bokkos community of involvement in attacks. The BCDC, however, pointed to investigations suggesting that the alleged attack on a Fulani individual in Maikatako-Kuba was actually a robbery incident carried out by Fulani assailants in a different location.
Highlighting the pattern of nighttime violence, the council stressed that these attacks should not be dismissed as “farmer-herder clashes.” Instead, they argued that the violence is part of a larger plan to drive local residents from their land. “Our community consists of both Christian and Muslim farmers and herders who coexist peacefully,” the BCDC emphasized.
To enhance local security, the council urged the government and security agencies to establish a civilian joint task force in Plateau State, mirroring similar arrangements across northern Nigeria. The BCDC acknowledged efforts by military and police but argued that civilian volunteers should be included as security partners to address the ongoing threat.
The BCDC concluded its statement by calling on the government to take swift action to protect the lives and property of Bokkos residents.