A fresh wave of violence hit Plateau State on Thursday, July 24, 2025, as gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits ambushed a commercial vehicle conveying traders returning from the popular Bokkos weekly market, killing at least 14 people, including women and babies.
The deadly attack occurred along Chirang Road in Mangor District of Bokkos Local Government Area, where the armed assailants reportedly laid in wait and opened fire on the unsuspecting passengers.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrific, with blood-soaked bodies of traders scattered around the vehicle. “The victims were coming back from the market when the gunmen blocked the road and started shooting at close range,” a source told reporters, requesting anonymity.
The chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Forum (BCDF), Farmasum Fuddang, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday. He lamented the killings, noting that the victims were mostly women and children who had gone to the market to trade and were on their way home.
“This violence occurred despite several peace and reconciliation meetings aimed at fostering coexistence between farming and herding communities in Bokkos. It is tragic and unacceptable,” Fuddang stated.
He directly accused Fulani militias of masterminding the attack, alleging that the motive behind the persistent violence was to take over Bokkos, a fertile region widely recognized as the potato hub of Nigeria.
“It’s no longer speculation. These militias are executing a systematic plan to instill fear, displace communities, and dominate the entire local government area,” he said.
As at press time, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Meanwhile, the attack has heightened tensions in the area, with residents calling for urgent government intervention and improved security presence to prevent further bloodshed.
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