Suspected Fulani bandits have killed eight residents in Mbwelle Village, located in the Kwatas District of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State. Authorities have characterized the assault, which occurred late Thursday night, as part of a renewed wave of reprisal attacks that have plagued the Middle Belt region throughout early 2026.
According to security reports, the gunmen invaded the community at approximately 10:30 p.m. on April 9, opening fire indiscriminately on households. The incident was first brought to public attention via a report from Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security analyst, who noted that the attackers focused heavily on specific family compounds.
The Victims
Community leaders have identified the eight deceased individuals as:
- Iliya Mangut (70)
- Habila Istifanus (38)
- Lucky Titus (38)
- Hassan Istifanus (31)
- Sunday Gideon (31)
- Innocent Barnabas (20)
- Bwehsun Hassan (25)
- Wisdom Lucky (15)
All casualties, including three others who sustained serious gunshot injuries, were evacuated to the Bokkos Cottage Hospital on Friday morning.
Security Response and Community Outrage
Joint security forces, including troops of Operation Safe Haven, reportedly responded to a distress call but arrived after the assailants had already fled into the surrounding difficult terrain. A security source attributed the delay to the 15-kilometer distance between the nearest military base and Mbwelle, as well as the tactical advantage the attackers held under the cover of darkness.
However, the local population has expressed deep frustration over the perceived failure of security agencies to prevent the massacre. Kefas Mallai, Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, confirmed the killings and noted that residents are planning a protest.
“The people are saying they want to protest because the security men have not protected them. The attack lasted for hours and yet, there was no presence of security to repel the assailants until they finished and left,” Mallai stated.
Escalating Tensions in Plateau
The Mbwelle massacre follows a string of violent encounters in the state over the past week:
- April 6: One person was killed and another rescued during an attack in Riyom LGA.
- April 9: Nigerian troops under Operation Wutan Daji reported neutralizing 13 bandits and rescuing 21 kidnapped victims during a major offensive in the Wase and Kanam forests.
Despite these military gains, the persistent cycle of “tit-for-tat” violence between farming communities and pastoralist groups continues to claim lives in the hinterlands. Youth Leader of Bokkos, Christopher Luka, described the latest assault as “devastating,” warning that the lack of proactive protection for rural villages is eroding the trust of the citizenry.
Troops have since intensified patrols in the Kwatas and Mbwelle axis to prevent further escalations, while the state government has urged community leaders to exercise restraint to avoid a total breakdown of law and order in the local government area.
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