At least 14 villagers and a mobile police officer were killed in two separate attacks by gunmen in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State on Thursday, July 24, 2025, deepening the region’s ongoing security crisis.
The assaults, which targeted communities in the Chirang and Richa areas, have prompted urgent responses from local authorities and security forces.
According to Kefas Mallai, Chairman of Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, one attack occurred around 4:00 pm as villagers, primarily from the Chirang community, were returning from Bokkos market to Mangor village.
“Fourteen natives were ambushed and killed by suspected terrorists, while three others were injured,” Mallai told PUNCH in Jos on Thursday night.
He described the incident as part of a “very unfortunate” wave of violence, noting that security personnel have since taken control of the area to restore calm and ensure community safety.
Earlier that day, a mobile police officer was fatally attacked while manning a checkpoint along Richa Road in Bokkos LGA.
“Our hearts are bleeding because early this morning, on 24th July, 2025, a MOPOL was killed at his duty post,” Mallai added, highlighting the rapid succession of the attacks.
The officer’s killing further underscored the vulnerability of security personnel in the region.Amalau Amalau, Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area, confirmed the incidents, describing the situation as an “emergency.”
Speaking to PUNCH, he said, “Right now, we are taking the victims to the Jos University Teaching Hospital,” indicating the urgency of the response as authorities rushed to aid the injured.
The attacks are the latest in a series of violent incidents in Bokkos, which has faced recurring assaults on its communities, often linked to land disputes and ethnic tensions. Security forces are now deployed to prevent further violence, but the incidents have heightened fears among residents.