Gunmen kill 14 in Plateau market ambush

At least 14 people have been killed in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State after gunmen ambushed a vehicle returning from the weekly market in Bokkos town.

The attack occurred on Thursday near Chirang village in Mangor district—an area that has suffered repeated violence in recent years.

The Bokkos Cultural Development Forum (BCDF) Vanguard, in a statement signed by its chairman, Farmasum Fuddang, and 10 other members, condemned the ambush as another episode in a “series of coordinated assaults” on native communities.

Women and babies were reportedly among the victims. The group believes the attacks are part of a broader plan to displace indigenous populations and take over their ancestral lands.

“This is not an isolated incident. Two years ago, over 60 people were killed in a Christmas Eve massacre in the same area,” the BCDF said, adding that nearly 100 people have died in similar attacks in recent years.

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Just two days before Thursday’s attack, another young man was reportedly killed in the same district. The BCDF said the frequency and consistency of these attacks point to a deliberate campaign to take control of Bokkos—a region often referred to as Nigeria’s “potato headquarters.”

“The Mushere district, in particular, has witnessed widespread village burnings and takeovers in recent months,” the group said.

The forum also criticised the response from government authorities and mediators, accusing them of downplaying the violence and protecting those who benefit from the chaos.

“Reconciliation efforts have amounted to nothing more than a cover-up,” the group alleged.

While urging residents to remain calm, the BCDF vowed to explore every legal and constitutional avenue to protect its people and communities. It extended condolences to the families of those killed and called on security agencies to act swiftly and decisively to prevent further bloodshed.

As of press time, Alfred Alabo, spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, could not be reached. Calls to his phone indicated it was switched off.