A devastating ambush by suspected bandits in Kukawa village, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, claimed the lives of at least eight people on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, according to a statement from the Plateau State Police Command.
The attack occurred late in the evening around 8:30 PM WAT, targeting residents who had gathered for a community meeting and were dispersing to their homes. Armed assailants, estimated at 15 based on witness accounts, opened fire indiscriminately, killing men, women, and a teenage boy, while injuring five others who were rushed to a local clinic. The bodies were later recovered by community volunteers and handed over to families for burial.
The incident is part of a recurring pattern of violence in Plateau State, where clashes between herders and farmers, exacerbated by armed banditry, have plagued the region for years. Local leader Markus Artu described the attack as a “senseless and cowardly act,” calling on the state and federal governments to deploy additional security personnel to protect vulnerable communities. The police have initiated a manhunt, dispatching a team to the surrounding forests where the attackers fled, though no arrests have been reported as of Wednesday morning.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang issued a statement condemning the violence, promising to visit the affected area and provide support to the victims’ families, while also pledging a review of security measures with the Nigeria Police Force. The attack has reignited demands for a comprehensive strategy to address the escalating insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, with community leaders planning a peace meeting for later this week.