A wave of coordinated assaults in Bokkos County, Plateau State, has left more than 100 Christians dead in four months, with entire villages abandoned and farmland destroyed. Local leaders warn that militants may be seeking to seize control of the area.
The Bokkos Cultural Development Forum (BCDF) Vanguard reports that one of the worst incidents occurred in April, when over 50 people were killed in a single day in Hurti village, Manguna district. Since then, attacks have continued, causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage to homes, churches, crops, and property.
At least 10 villages have been emptied, with militants looting and destroying homes and food stores. Crops have been lost just before harvest, raising fears of hunger among displaced families. Residents say the attackers are well-armed and operate from camps in forested areas along the Plateau–Nasarawa border, allowing them to launch repeated raids.
Recent assaults have hit Mushere district, where two people were killed and more than 15 injured within the past four days. Villages targeted include Dimar, Hokk, Margif, Kopmur, Nina, Ikgngwaghap, and Fokholdep. On 26 May, eight residents, including a pastor, were killed in Kopmur village.
The BCDF warns that Bokkos lies on a strategic route between Plateau and Nasarawa states, making it a potential gateway for armed groups to expand their influence. They say the violence follows a pattern seen across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where Christian farming communities have been targeted in what locals allege is an organised campaign to take fertile land.
Security forces are present in some areas, but residents claim they are often slow to respond, arriving long after attackers have fled. Many communities rely on civilian defence groups made up of volunteers, who say they are struggling to cope with the scale of the violence.
The Forum has urged Governor Caleb Mutfwang and federal authorities to dismantle militant camps, provide urgent humanitarian aid, and create joint civilian–military task forces to protect vulnerable villages. It has also called for the safe return of displaced people, with funds from recent donations, including from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, used for housing and relief.
Thousands of Christians have been killed in Plateau and neighbouring states over the past decade. While the Nigerian government often classifies the violence as “farmer–herder clashes,” community leaders argue that the level of organisation and destruction suggests a broader strategy.
With the rainy season now underway, displaced families are sheltering in schools, churches, and relatives’ homes. Many children are out of school, and some remain separated from their families. Local leaders fear that without urgent intervention, militants could soon gain control of Bokkos and surrounding areas.
This is a rewritten version of the original article published on ICC.
