Gunmen kill community leader in Plateau

The Mishkaham Bokkos, Jatau Yohanna Samkwar, has reportedly died after suspected gunmen shot him at his residence in Daffo, Bokkos local government area of Plateau State.

The community leader was reportedly shot in the leg on October 13 after which he was rushed to the hospital in Mangu but died hours later.

Bulus Dabit, National President of Mwaghavul Development Association, confirmed the incident, adding that the deceased was attacked at his residence.

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He said “The Mwaghavul people again mourns the murder of Mishkaham Yohanna Jatau Samkwar the Community Leader of Mwaghavul people in Bokkos LGA.who was attacked by unknown gunmen last night the 13th October 2026 at his residence at Daffor, in Bokkos LGA. He died at the cottage hospital Mangu following gun injuries he sustained from the attack. “

The President recalled that the deceased’s son, Zuhumnan Nanle, was kidnapped on 03/10/2026, at Daffo , adding that “his son was released on the 12 October, 2026. This release was followed immediately by an attack on the family during which the Mishkaham was shot on the evening of 13 October 2026. It is very clear that the recent attackers are the kidnappers.”

The Mwaghavul Development Association therefore condemned what it described as “terror and warns the attackers of dire consequences and demand justice for the decease by the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspects by relevant security agencies and the judiciary respectively. We demand an immediate stopage of the selective killing of our people.”

Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, also confirmed the incident, expressing concern over the prevailing security situation in the area.

Mallai said, “They came to his house at night and shot him in the leg. He was rushed to a hospital in Daffo, but he was later referred to another hospital. Unfortunately, he died.”

He disclosed that the traditional ruler’s son had allegedly been kidnapped earlier but was released on Sunday, before the attackers reportedly returned to the residence and shot his father.

Mallai lamented that repeated attacks and killings had become a source of concern in Bokkos, adding that residents continued with their daily activities despite the prevailing security challenges.

He said, “The incidents are too many in Bokkos. Almost every day, somebody is killed or something happens. The situation is becoming normalised to the extent that people no longer report every incident because they have become used to hearing about killings.”

“People are still moving about, markets are open and businesses are going on. People cannot stop running their businesses because of fear, even though the security situation remains a concern,” he added.