Death toll rises above 30 after attack on Kawel village in Plateau State

The death toll from a deadly attack on Kawel village in the Mushere Chiefdom of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, has climbed above 30. Several injured victims later succumbed to their wounds in hospital. The assault took place on the night of Sunday, June 21, 2026, when suspected Fulani militias, numbering in the hundreds, invaded the community while residents were asleep. Community leaders report that victims included local health workers and security personnel caught in the violence. Youth leader in Bokkos LGA, Christopher Luka, who visited the hospital, confirmed the rising toll. “I visited the hospital and saw the situation myself. So far, 22 deaths have been recorded, including women. The victims are yet to be buried because of the rainfall experienced since morning,” he said. He added that health workers and patients at the facility were among those killed. Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, stated that by Monday afternoon, at least 25 people had been confirmed dead. He criticized security forces for delayed response despite prior intelligence and frantic calls for help. “The impact of the attack would have been less if security personnel had arrived on time,” Mallai said. He alleged that attackers operate from nearby occupied communities and escaped without immediate apprehension. The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the incident, which occurred around 4:40 a.m. on June 21. In a statement by Police Public Relations Officer SP Alfred Alabo, the command said armed hoodlums attacked the community. Police and other security agencies engaged the assailants in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat. Initially, 18 people were confirmed dead at the scene, with three others rushed to hospital. Two of the injured later died, bringing the official toll to 20 at that time. The remains were released to families for burial, as they declined an autopsy. Investigations are ongoing, and a manhunt for the perpetrators is underway. Residents continue to count their losses amid heavy rainfall, with fears that the final death toll could rise further as more information emerges from the affected community. This incident adds to the recurring cycle of violence in the region.

Death toll from Sunday night’s attack on Kawel village in Mushere Chiefdom of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State has reportedly risen to 30, as some of the injured victims succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment in the hospital. Community leaders and residents have also reported that some of the victims include health workers and […] Plateau massacre: Death toll rises above 30 as residents count losses