Twelve days after the devastating terror attacks that rocked their communities, residents of Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and other communities in Mangu Local Government Areas in Plateau State have deserted their homes as dead bodies litter the streets.
On Christmas Eve, gunmen unleashed a brutal assault on over 25 communities in Plateau State, leaving a chilling aftermath of over 150 fatalities and extensive property destruction.
The onslaught forced more than 10,000 individuals to flee their homes, leaving the once-thriving communities eerily empty and sad.
A visit by Punch to the affected villages—Matellem, Dung, Yelwa, Ngyong, among others—unveiled a haunting spectacle of abandoned settlements devoid of any signs of life.
Shockingly, no security presence was noted in these deserted and devastated areas.
The depth of the tragedy became painfully evident in Mbar community, where charred remains of residents, burnt beyond recognition, were found scattered amidst the ruins of their homes.
Gideon ParaMallam, a prominent peace advocate, visited the affected communities to express solidarity and provide relief materials to internally displaced persons.
Speaking with journalists, ParaMallam said, “We have come here to Bokkos, and we have seen and heard from the people. The attacks in Bokkos villages have been very devastating.
“The loss of lives and the degrading and the degrading of human dignity has been very painful. Our peace foundation came to make a call for peace to appeal to the people of Bokkos for restraints.
“We have also come to see things for ourselves so that we can promote the cry for Justice for the people of Bokkos. Our peace foundation believes in peace-building that is predicated on justice.
“That useless narrative that goes around that makes it look as if that it is Bokkos people who have been fighting and killing themselves is a complete fallacy and a lie. Bokkos People are not killing themselves.
“We have talked with them and heard from them, and I believe that our visit will not only throw more light on what Bokkos people have gone through but also encourage Nigerians to rise in unison to condemn the terrorism that took place on Christmas Eve and right after that. The only way to bring peace to Bokkos Communities is to return them back to their communities.”
Meanwhile, a new sector commander had been deployed to Bokkos following the attacks in the communities.
However, the new Sector Commander of Operation Safe Haven in charge of Bokkos, Lt Col Isaac Indiorhwer, allayed fears of any fresh attack in the communities and assured that they were doing everything possible to restore peace in the troubled communities.
The commander spoke on Friday when the President of Gideon and Funmmi ParaMallam Peace Foundation visited the Command’s headquarters in Bokkos after a tour of the troubled communities.
He also dismissed the claim that troops had abandoned the troubled communities.
