Approximately 10 people were tragically killed in an attack by suspected Fulani militias on Mandung-Mushu and Kopnanle villages in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, Barr Farmasum Fuddang, confirmed the attack on Saturday, stating that it occurred on the night of Friday, April 12.
Fuddang expressed deep sadness over the brutal attack, criticizing the lack of consequences for the Fulani terrorists responsible despite the presence of security forces like the DSS, army, and Police.
He said: “Under the cover of darkness, more than fifty armed terrorists descended upon the villages of Mandung-Mushu and Kopnanle, targeting innocent, unarmed, and peaceful residents as they slept. The assailants set fire to homes and a place of worship, mercilessly gunning down fleeing civilians while nearby soldiers failed to intervene effectively.
“This brazen attack, which predominantly targeted children, appears to be part of a calculated effort to instill fear and perpetrate further displacement within our communities.”
The chairman condemned terrorism, stating that it is part of a plan to impose sharia law and seize their land.
He explained that BCDC Vanguard had submitted a petition to the Department of State Services (DSS) challenging a leaked memo that falsely accused their community of planning violence against Fulani settlers.
The chairman stressed that they strongly rejected the information in the memo, calling it untrue and defamatory.
According to him, “Despite our efforts to rectify these falsehoods, the security apparatus failed to protect our community from the very threats we highlighted. We are appalled by the apparent prioritization of the lives of Fulani residents over our own and demand answers from the authorities.”
The series of events, where the attack happened right after the DSS mistakenly warned about a possible assault on Fulani communities, has raised concerns about potential collaboration or intentional negligence.
We cannot accept this injustice and demand immediate transparency and accountability.
“This is more so that advance notices of attack in the area were published and circulated at least a week prior to the so-called DSS intelligence. The DSS ignored these warnings and instead chose to implicate the victims despite acknowledging in their memo that the Fulani were responsible for the six-day attack that claimed over 300 of our members last Christmas,” Daily Post quoted Fuddang saying.
The council declared that the DSS alert resembles a common strategy used by Fulani terrorists, who often use false alarms to intimidate people and justify their attacks.
They stressed that unless the DSS resolves this issue, they suspect the agency’s involvement and influence.
“Should the authorities fail to provide satisfactory explanations within the shortest possible time, we are prepared to pursue legal recourse. Enough is enough—we will not allow our people to be targeted and vilified while those responsible for our safety turn a blind eye,” Fuddang stressed.
