At least 18 persons have been killed following coordinated attacks by gunmen on Kawel and Kopkon communities in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, that troops of Sector 5 under Operation Enduring Peace responded to distress calls after the attacks, which occurred at about 1:20 a.m. on June 20.
According to the sources, the assailants stormed Kawel and Kopkon villages and opened fire indiscriminately on residents before fleeing the area as security operatives mobilised to the scene.
On arrival, troops reportedly recovered 12 bodies from Kawel village and six others from Kopkon village, bringing the death toll from the attacks to 18.
The sources disclosed that security personnel immediately launched offensive operations across the surrounding areas to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The latest killings come amid a resurgence of violence in Plateau State, where rural communities have continued to suffer deadly attacks despite increased security deployments.
Operation Enduring Peace has since intensified patrols and reinforced security presence in vulnerable parts of the state in response to the recurring incidents.
In May, no fewer than 12 persons were killed in separate attacks on communities in Riyom and Bassa Local Government Areas of the state.
Similarly, in March, gunmen reportedly killed 27 residents in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area, underscoring the persistent security challenges confronting Plateau communities.
The renewed attacks have heightened concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the state and the need for sustained efforts to prevent further bloodshed.
Boluwatife Enome
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