Bokkos local government area of Plateau State on Sunday came under attack by bandits .
The attack was on Mbar community where the gumen killed five persons.
Daily Sun gathered that the latest attack happened between 7.pm to 7.30 pm,when the youths who were on their way from Mbar town to Koh village were ambushed.
The victims were attacked along the bypass encircling Yelwa Nono village, by fleeing bandits on motorcycles who were initially repelled by the military from the surrounding mountains.
Confirming the incident in a statement, the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, said the incident occurred despite prior intelligence given to security agencies on suspected terrorists’ influx into the area.
A petition signed by the Chairman of the BCDC Vanguard Farmasum Fuddang,and Secretary, Duwam Bosco, condemned the incident .
“We condemn in the strongest terms the tragic killing of five innocent young men in Mbar community on September 15, despite prior intelligence reports of suspected terrorists’ influx into the area.
“The harmless, unarmed youths were attacked on their way from Mbar town to Koh village along a bypass encircling Yelwa Nono village between 7.pm to 7.30 pm by fleeing bandit terrorists on motorcycles who were initially repelled by the military from the surrounding mountains.
“By the time the security forces were informed about the attack and arrived the scene several minutes later, the terrorists had completed their mission and fled without apprehension.
“This incident adds to a series of armed attacks in our villages, including the recent murder of 11 youths in Tarangol, Daffo, and Bargesh villages on September 3.
“We perceive these unprovoked attacks as a calculated attempt at evicting our people from their ancestral homes and taking over the land. We request to be involved in the handling of the threats in our land, working in synergy with security forces as is the case with the civilian joint task force in the northeast and northwest regions.
“This is not to undermine or underrate the efforts of the military. However, we understand the logistical and manpower shortages faced by the military, requiring the active participation of local community members who by the way know the terrain and can better assist with intelligence to identify and expose criminal elements in communities.
“This we believe can enable us to find lasting solutions to these attacks, which are often carried out by mercenaries with extremist ideologies who are always heard chanting “Allahu Akhbar” while slaughtering residents.
“We wish to also advise communities to eschew late movements as advised by security authorities to minimize risk.
While sympathising with the families of the victims, the groups called on residents to be vigilant and defend themselves, as government securities are clearly inadequate, stressing,”We will not stand idly by while our people — a small minority in Nigeria are eliminated from the face of the earth.”