Three people, including a pastor, were killed on Friday when bandits attacked Suwa and Ding’ak villages in the Mushere chiefdom of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The assault, which occurred between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., claimed the lives of Pastor Gideon Katings of COCIN Suwa, Sunday Ringkang, and Meshach Bukata.
Kefas Mallai, Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, confirmed the incident, adding that one Michael Kamshak and several others sustained injuries and were receiving treatment at Cottage Hospital, Bokkos.
Mallai said hundreds of residents fled their homes following the attack, which adds to a string of deadly assaults that have plagued Bokkos in recent weeks.
Over 20 villagers have been killed in separate incidents in the past month, with properties destroyed and communities displaced.
Efforts to reach the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off.
Bokkos LGA chairman, Amalau Samuel Amalau, has called for urgent and decisive action by security agencies to protect residents, while Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the killings, describing them as genocide and a coordinated attempt at land grabbing.
He vowed to work with security operatives to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace to the troubled communities.