The Plateau Police Command in the early hours of Tuesday confirmed the attacks and killing of 96 persons in Bokkos and BarkinLadi Local Government areas by armed gunmen that invaded several affected villages of the two Local government areas of Plateau state.
In a strong worded statement issued to newsmen by the state Commissioner of Police CP Okoro J Alawari through the Command’s spokesperson DSP Alfred Alabo which was made available to journalists on Tuesday in Jos , 79 persons were killed in 12 villages in Bokkos LGA while 17 persons were killed in 3 communities of BarkinLadi LGA with properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
He said the deadly attacks took place in some remote villages of Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State was carried out by some yet to be identified assailants on the 24/12/2023 at odd hours of the night.
CP Alawari sympathizes with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the gruesome attack.
According to the statement, on the 24/12/2023 at 2200hrs the following twelve (12) villages in Bokkos LGA were attacked; Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat and Butura Kampani village while on the same night, on 24/12/2023 at about 2245hrs, three (3) villages in Barkin-Ladi LGA namely; NTV, Hurum and Darawat were also attacked.
The command spokesperson DSP Alabo stated that In order to prevent further carnage, the Commissioner of Police have directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police incharge Operations (DC DOPs) to relocate to Bokkos LGA and also deployed high-power delegation of well armed operational forces to the troubled areas to prevent further attacks and also assess the level of damages in the affected areas.
“Findings from the assessment of the ugly incidents in Bokkos LGA revealed that the total number of villages attacked is Twelve (12), Two Hundred and twenty-one (221) houses were set ablaze, Twenty- seven (27) motorcycles were burnt, Eight (8) motor-vehicles were burnt down and over Seventy -nine (79) persons were killed. while Seventeen deaths was recorded in Barkin-ladi LGA.'” he disclosed.
He added that investigation and monitoring of the incidents is still on at the affected communities and that further development would be communicated.
•INDEPENDENTNG.