A traditional leader in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Da Yohana Margif, has raised alarm over the occupation of seven villages in Mushere Chiefdom by suspected Fulani militants.
Da Margif, who is the Waziri Mushere, said in a statement on Friday that the affected villages — Hokk, Kaban, Kadim, Nawula, Dulu, Mbor, and Margif — were attacked and taken over by armed herders who displaced the original inhabitants.
According to him, the attacks have lasted over three months, forcing thousands of villagers to flee their homes and take shelter in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and surrounding hills.
“Our people are roaming in the wilderness while the invaders live comfortably in our homes,” he said. “The Fulani militants are grazing cattle on our farmlands, changing the names of our villages, and building tents with guns visible.”
Da Margif said many were killed in the initial attacks, and those who survived had to abandon their homes and farms. He added that the displaced residents now live in harsh conditions without basic supplies.
He called on the Plateau State Government and security agencies to act quickly and restore peace to the region.
“These criminals are not hiding. The authorities must go after them and allow our people to return to their ancestral lands. Our communities deserve protection, justice, and peace,” he added.
Plateau State has witnessed recurring violence between local farming communities and armed herders over land disputes, with Bokkos LGA being one of the hardest hit in recent years. Many attacks go unpunished, fueling anger and deepening ethnic and religious tensions in the region.
