‘A fresh wave of violence has hit Plateau State after armed gunmen carried out a deadly nighttime attack on the rural community of Mbwelle in Bokkos Local Government Area, killing at least eight people and injuring several others.
The attack occurred late on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at about 11:00 p.m., when assailants stormed Mbwelle village, located a few kilometres from Bokkos town. According to residents, the gunmen moved into the community under the cover of darkness, firing sporadically and breaking into homes while terrified villagers fled in panic. The assault reportedly lasted for a prolonged period with little to no immediate resistance, as residents hid or ran into nearby bushes for safety.
By the early hours of Friday, at least eight bodies had been recovered, with several others sustaining injuries of varying degrees. Local sources confirmed that most of the victims were members of the same extended family — the Dakus family. This concentration of deaths within one household has intensified fears that the attack may have been deliberately targeted.
Among the victims were:
- Iliya Mangut Dakus
- Luck Titus Dakus
- Habila Istifanu Dakus
- Hassan Istifanus Dakus
- Hassan Moses Dakus
- Biggie Lucky Dakus
- Sunday Gideon Dakus
- Innocent Barnabas Makwin
Residents say the heavy loss within a single family has left a deep scar on the community, with relatives struggling to come to terms with the scale of the tragedy.
In the aftermath, reports emerged of a surviving male relative who lost almost his entire immediate family in the assault. While early claims circulating online suggested he lost his whole household, local accounts indicate he lost multiple close family members in one night — a tragedy that has drawn widespread sympathy and outrage.
A video now circulating on social media reportedly shows the grieving man beside the bodies or images of the family members he lost, further amplifying the emotional impact of the incident. However, authorities have not officially verified the footage, and its full authenticity and context remain unclear.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but residents have accused suspected armed herders — a recurring allegation in similar incidents across the region. Authorities are yet to release a formal statement identifying the perpetrators or providing full details of the killings.
Community leaders have expressed anger over the delayed security response, claiming the attack continued for hours without meaningful intervention despite the presence of security forces in the wider area. The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of rural communities in Plateau State and the persistent threat of night raids that often result in heavy casualties.
The latest killings add to a growing list of violent incidents in Plateau State, where long-standing tensions linked to land disputes, ethnic divisions, and farmer-herder conflicts continue to fuel instability. For the residents of Mbwelle village, however, the broader causes offer little comfort as families mourn their loved ones and live in fear of future attacks.
