Gunmen have reportedly attacked mourners in Ruwi community, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing ten people.
The victims had gathered at a family house to mourn a deceased person when the attackers struck on Thursday night.
Eyewitnesses reported that most of those killed were women, with seven of them brutally clubbed to death with machetes. Three men were also killed, while two women sustained injuries.
Mr. Kefas Mallai, Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LG, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday. He stated that the attackers exploited the mourners’ gathering to execute their plan.
Security personnel were alerted, but they arrived after the perpetrators had escaped.
Mallai said, “Yes, it is true. It was around 10pm yesterday, March 27, 2025, at Ruwi community in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau state.
“The victims were mostly women. Seven women were clubbed to death with matchettes. Three men were killed, too, with two other women injured because many of them were women.
“They came to mourn their loved one that died a natural death. So, they were just there as is our tradition which demands that they would gather at the deceased family house and many of them would sleep over till the next day and even three days especially relatives just to keep the deceased family company.
“So that was the situation, and the enemy took advantage of that and came in the night and slaughtered the mourners around 10pm. I learnt the perpetrators were killer Fulani herders. When the attack was taking place, I learnt security men were called to the village, but before they could arrive at the place, the killers had finished their evil act and fled the scene.
“But as it is now, there is no any retaliation from the community and even the Bokkos town is calm but if you go the affected community, that is where you will see crowd that has gathered, bemoaning the calamity that has befallen the people.”
“So at the moment, the community is currently in a state of shock and mourning, with many gathering at the affected community to bemoan the calamity.”
Efforts to reach Plateau State Police Command spokesman, Alabo Alfred, were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off.
The attack happened less than a week after the state police convened a meeting where farmers and herders pledged to maintain peace.
