8/11/2025 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) — A series of sustained attacks in the county of Bokkos in Plateau state has left hundreds dead, entire villages abandoned, and farmlands destroyed, raising fears among residents that militants may be preparing to seize large swaths of territory.

According to the Bokkos Cultural Development Forum (BCDF) Vanguard, more than 100 Christians have been killed in the past four months in coordinated assaults targeting Christian farming communities. One of the deadliest incidents occurred in April, when more than 50 villagers were killed in a single day in the village of Hurti in Manguna district. Since then, violent raids have continued, with millions of dollars’ worth of property, homes, and crops destroyed.

BCDF Vanguard leaders said the violence has left the region vulnerable to militant infiltration from neighboring Nasarawa state and other conflict hotspots in northern Nigeria. They warn that Bokkos, which lies at a strategic crossroads between Plateau and Nasarawa states, could become a corridor for armed groups to expand into Plateau if current security measures remain unchanged.

In just the past four days, at least two people have been killed and more than 15 injured — some critically — in a wave of attacks on Mushere district. Villages affected include Dimar, Hokk, Margif, Kopmur, Nina, Ikgngwaghap, and Fokholdep. These assaults follow the May 26 killing of eight residents, including a pastor, in Kopmur village.

Local leaders said the violence is being carried out by well-armed groups operating from forested areas along the Plateau–Nasarawa border. These groups have reportedly established makeshift camps and moved closer to residential areas, enabling them to launch surprise raids.

More than 10 villages have now been abandoned, with militants looting and destroying homes, churches, and food storage. Crops have been lost just before harvest, increasing fears of food shortages for displaced families.

Residents said the strategy appears aimed at exhausting the remaining population through relentless raids until survivors either flee or are killed, clearing the way for armed groups to occupy the land. This tactic has been reported in other parts of Plateau state, where several communities are now considered “no-go zones” for Christian residents.

One example often cited by residents is Lukfai, a large town located along the road to Bokkos, where mass displacement occurred in 2015. Today, homes once belonging to members of the Berom, Mwagavul, and Ron ethnic groups are reportedly inhabited by outsiders, without official intervention to restore them to their original owners.

In Bokkos, the security situation has worsened despite the presence of military personnel in some areas. According to BCDF Vanguard, civilian defense groups composed of local volunteers are often the primary line of defense against attacks. These groups say they are increasingly overwhelmed, facing not only armed militants but also occasional clashes with security forces during tense operations.

The Forum called on Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang to intervene urgently. It has requested that the newly constituted state committee on land use address what it describes as “criminality and rights violations” linked to these attacks. The Forum also advocates for the establishment of a joint civilian task force, similar to community-based defense networks employed in Nigeria’s northwest and northeast, to operate in conjunction with the military and police.

The group further urged state and federal authorities to identify and dismantle militant camps in the Mushere district and to expedite the resettlement of displaced persons. They suggest using recent donations from individuals and organizations, including Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to provide immediate relief and housing.

The attacks in Bokkos follow a pattern of violence across Plateau state and the Middle Belt, where Christian farming communities have faced deadly raids by armed groups often identified locally as Fulani militants. Residents allege the goal is to seize fertile land.

Government figures and independent monitors have documented repeated destruction of communities, with survivors often unable to return due to security risks and some finding their former lands occupied.

The current situation in Bokkos has also raised concerns about its influence on surrounding local government areas, including Mangu, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom. Local leaders warn that if Bokkos falls under militant control, attackers will be able to move freely between the northwest and northeast, bypassing current military operations and establishing safe havens deeper inside Plateau.

The Nigerian government has launched periodic security operations in Plateau to curb attacks, but community representatives say these have had limited influence in preventing large-scale killings and displacement. In many cases, security forces arrive hours after an attack, by which time the assailants have fled.

International Christian Concern (ICC) has reported extensively on similar incidents across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where thousands of Christians have been killed during the past decade in violence linked to land disputes, religious tensions, and the spread of armed militant groups. The Nigerian government classifies most incidents as “farmer–herder clashes,” but local leaders argue the scale and organization of the attacks indicate a broader campaign.

As the rainy season progresses, displaced families from Bokkos are sheltering in schools, church buildings, and with relatives in safer areas. Humanitarian needs are mounting, with urgent shortages of food, shelter, and medical care. Many children have been forced out of school due to the insecurity, while others remain separated from their families after fleeing attacks.

Community leaders say the people of Bokkos remain determined to defend their homes and way of life, but without additional support, the balance could shift quickly in favor of the attackers. The Forum has appealed to both Nigerian authorities and the international community for assistance in providing security, rebuilding destroyed homes, and ensuring the safe return of displaced persons.

The violence in Bokkos marks one of the most intense periods of conflict in Plateau state in recent years. According to BCDF Vanguard, April’s massacre in Hurti was the single deadliest attack in the area in 2025, and the months that followed have brought an unbroken cycle of killings, destruction, and forced displacement.

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