Tragedy struck again in Plateau State as suspected Fulani militias launched two separate attacks on communities in Bokkos Local Government Area, leaving four people dead — including a female vigilante leader, simply identified as Tawa.
The attacks occurred within 24 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday in the Butura district, where the victims were reportedly ambushed and gunned down. Two others also sustained injuries during the attacks.
The killings have once again highlighted the growing insecurity in Plateau, where communities continue to face repeated attacks, despite the presence of security forces.
Confirming the incident, the President of the Butura Youth Movement (BYM), Sabastine Magit, described the killings as barbaric and senseless. He stated that Tawa, the female vigilante leader, had been volunteering to assist security agencies in protecting civilians involved in local tin mining operations.
According to him, Tawa was returning from a mining camp when she was ambushed near Butura Kampani village. She was riding on a motorcycle with another woman when they were attacked and killed on the spot. The motorcycle driver survived the attack but sustained injuries.
“Tragically, while returning from a mining camp where she volunteered to assist government security forces in protecting civilians involved in tin mining, Tawa was attacked and killed, along with another woman traveling with her,” Magit stated.
He added that the attack clearly shows that criminal elements are targeting those who step up to protect their communities.
Just a day earlier, another deadly ambush occurred near Maikatako village, also in the Butura district. In that attack, two young male vigilante volunteers were killed, and one other person sustained injuries.
Magit said these attacks appear to be well-coordinated efforts aimed at weakening local resistance and making the communities vulnerable to future assaults.
“These are not random attacks. They are carefully planned. They aim to silence those standing up to defend our land and our people,” he said.
The Butura Youth Movement strongly accused Fulani herders of being behind the killings. They also expressed anger over the failure of security agencies to act on prior warnings about suspicious movements and threats in the area.
“We are deeply disappointed. These killings could have been prevented. The communities gave timely information, yet there was no increased patrol or security presence,” Magit said.
According to local residents, the attacks follow a pattern where communities give advance notice to authorities but get little or no response until after people are killed.
Magit emphasized the need for urgent intervention from the state and federal governments to address what he called an ongoing war against rural communities in Plateau.
Bokkos Local Government Area has remained one of the flashpoints of violence in Plateau State, often suffering from farmer-herder conflicts and attacks on villages by suspected bandits.
Over the past few years, the region has witnessed repeated cases of killings, destruction of farmland, and displacement of people — often blamed on Fulani herdsmen. Communities have resorted to setting up local vigilante groups, like the one led by Tawa, to complement official security efforts.
Unfortunately, these community-led efforts have often made the volunteers targets of attacks.
The Butura Youth Movement is now calling for:
-Increased security patrols across Bokkos and neighboring LGAs
-Immediate investigation into the killings and the arrest of the attackers
– for vigilante members and those aiding government security efforts
-Better intelligence response from security agencies to early warnings
They also urged the Plateau State Government, the Nigerian Police, and the military to treat the killings with the urgency and seriousness they deserve.
“Our people are living in fear. The killers are walking free. If something is not done now, more lives will be lost,” Magit warned.
As the community mourns the loss of four of its members — including a brave woman who stood up for peace, the people of Butura are left with deep sorrow and growing anger over what they see as a failure of the system meant to protect them.
