Unrest Continues in Plateau State as Budel Community Falls Victim to Nighttime Assault

In the wake of recent armed attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, another community, Budel in the Tangur district, faced a harrowing assault on Thursday night. Marauders targeted the area, setting homes ablaze in a rampage that, fortunately, resulted in no reported casualties due to the swift intervention of security forces.

Monday Kassah, the Transition Committee Chairman of Bokkos, confirmed the incident, highlighting the destructive nature of the attack on the Budel community. Kassah reassured that, despite the property damage, no lives were lost thanks to the timely response of security personnel.

This latest assault follows closely on the heels of the Christmas Day attacks, which initially struck Bokkos and subsequently spilled into Barkin Ladi. The toll from the Christmas Day violence stands at 195 casualties, with 148 reported in Bokkos, 19 in Mangu, and 27 in Barkin Ladi. The attacks resulted in the burning of 1,290 houses in Bokkos, one in Mangu, and an undetermined number in Barkin Ladi.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the violence, denouncing it as “barbaric, brutal, and unjustified.” Gyang Bere, the governor’s spokesperson, affirmed the government’s commitment to taking proactive measures to protect innocent civilians from such attacks.

Reports indicate ongoing gunfire in the state, underscoring the persistent threat faced by local residents. A Mushu village resident shared a chilling account, revealing that assailants struck while people were asleep, capturing some and causing both fatalities and injuries.

Amnesty International weighed in on the situation, criticizing the Nigerian authorities for failing to quell the frequent deadly attacks on rural communities in Plateau state. The plateau has long grappled with religious and ethnic tensions, resulting in numerous casualties and displacements. The competition for natural resources, exacerbated by population growth and climate pressures, continues to fuel social tensions, escalating the cycle of violence in the state.