Nigerian: Suspected herders kill pastor, seven others in fresh Plateau attacks

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

At least eight people have lost their lives in fresh attacks on communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. The victims included a pastor and seven natives who were reportedly killed by suspected herders’ militia.

The attacks began on at around 10 pm, when Pastor Mimang Lekyil of COCIN LCC Kwakas-Mushere was attacked and killed in the pastorium. The pastor’s wife was shot in the leg and is currently receiving treatment at Jos University Teaching Hospital. The situation escalated on Monday, when native youths who were angered by the attacks reportedly razed Fulani structures in the same Kwakas area where the pastor was killed. However, security personnel intervened and brought the situation under control.

Tragically, on the same day, at around 9 pm, the herders’ militia mobilized themselves and attacked the neighboring Mbor community of Mushere, killing seven natives. The corpse of the pastor has been deposited in the mortuary at Luna Hospital in Bokkos.

The chairman of Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, Kefas Mallai, expressed concerns about the inadequate presence of security personnel in the area, which has led to some native women and children leaving their homes to seek safer places. The state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, has deployed security operatives to maintain law and order in the affected communities.

The Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, said the situation was under control, adding that the Commissioner of Police had deployed security operatives to the affected areas. The police are working to bring the situation under control and prevent further violence.