At least 22 people have been confirmed dead following a deadly overnight attack on Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, in yet another violent assault on rural communities in the state.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday night, left health workers, civilians and security personnel among the victims, according to community leaders and emergency responders.
Bokkos Youth Leader, Christopher Luka, confirmed the updated casualty figure after visiting both the community and hospital facilities affected by the incident.
“I visited the hospital and saw the situation myself. So far, 22 deaths have been recorded, including women,” Luka said.
Eyewitnesses said armed men stormed the village and opened fire indiscriminately, killing residents and destroying property in what appeared to be a coordinated attack.
A Red Cross official involved in emergency response operations, who requested anonymity, said the attackers also invaded the community’s Primary Health Care Centre during the raid.
The official said gunmen shot at health workers and patients who were receiving treatment at the facility at the time of the attack.
According to the source, both civilians and security personnel were among those killed, while several others sustained gunshot and machete injuries of varying severity.
Survivors were evacuated to nearby health facilities for treatment as emergency teams continued rescue and recovery operations in the affected area.
Luka further disclosed that some victims were yet to be buried due to heavy rainfall, which hampered recovery efforts and delayed burial arrangements in the community.
He added that those killed included health workers on duty as well as patients receiving care when the attackers struck.
The incident adds to a growing pattern of violent attacks in Plateau State, where rural communities have continued to suffer repeated incursions despite ongoing security interventions.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue a comprehensive official statement on the attack.
