Tears as eight family members buried in Bokkos after targeted night massacre

Eight members of the Dakus family were laid to rest on Friday following a brutal Thursday night attack by suspected militia on Mbwelle village in Plateau State, an assault that claimed over 20 lives and sparked intense community outrage over the lack of security intervention.

Anger and profound grief gripped Mbwelle village in the Kwatas district of Bokkos Local Government Area on Friday, April 10, 2026, during the mass burial of eight family members killed in a targeted attack by suspected militia. The victims, identified as members of the Dakus family ranging in age from 15 to 70, were slaughtered when gunmen invaded their home late Thursday night. According to residents, the terrorists stormed the community at approximately 10:30 p.m., shooting sporadically for nearly an hour. Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus, the 70-year-old patriarch, was rounded up along with his children and grandchildren and killed in cold blood after they were unable to escape the advancing militants. In total, the raid is estimated to have claimed over 20 lives, leaving the village in a state of shock and desolation.

The funeral service became a flashpoint for community frustration, with local leaders and youths decrying the total absence of security personnel during and after the assault. Christopher Luka, a youth leader who spoke at the burial, expressed disbelief that such a devastating raid could occur without hindrance despite the village’s proximity to Bokkos town and a nearby security base camp. “When I heard the gunshots, I started calling others to find out where the shooting was coming from. Before this, the area had been relatively peaceful. There had been no recent incidents of violence, so this attack came as a shock. We strongly condemn both the attack and the absence of security personnel. This is a devastating assault on the people of Bokkos and Plateau State as a whole,” he said.

Community leaders have called on the government to intervene urgently, warning that the persistent failure of security agencies to respond to distress calls is pushing the local population toward a breaking point. Dakol James, Chairman of the Bokkos chapter of the Plateau Youth Council, noted that nearly 12 hours after the massacre, no security forces had arrived to assess the scene or provide protection. Adding to this sentiment, community leader Yunana Amos lamented the perceived negligence of the authorities, stating, “Our people are angry over the failure of security operatives to protect them and are planning to protest. The security forces did not respond despite the proximity of the area to one of their base camps.” As the village begins its period of mourning, many residents remain unaccounted for, and several others are fighting for their lives in nearby hospitals.

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