Outrage in Plateau as Bandits Take Over Village, Force Residents to Flee

Outrage in Plateau as Bandits Take Over Village, Force Residents to Flee

Armed bandits have reportedly taken over a village in Mushere Chiefdom, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, forcing residents to flee, renaming the community, and converting a local church into a mosque, in what community leaders describe as a complete seizure of ancestral land.

The development has left dozens of families displaced, cut off from their farmlands, homes and livelihoods, further deepening the humanitarian crisis in parts of Plateau State affected by persistent violence.

A community leader, Amos Gyang, disclosed the incident on Sunday while speaking at a charity event organised by the Plateau Unite Foundation in Jos. He said the invasion occurred in September 2025, when armed attackers, identified as Fulani bandits, stormed the village without warning.

According to Gyang, the assailants killed more than 10 residents, seized control of the community and drove surviving villagers into neighbouring areas and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where many now live in harsh and degrading conditions.

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“We were living in peace, going about our businesses because most of our people are farmers,” Gyang said. “Some of them had lived with us for years and even spoke our language. We never imagined they would turn against us.”

He explained that after forcing residents to flee, the attackers occupied the land, seized farms, livestock and houses, renamed the village, and converted the community church into a mosque, actions he described as symbolic of a total takeover.

“As I stand here today, many of our people are scattered in IDP camps, facing hunger and suffering. Some families have been reduced to begging just to survive, while our fertile land is being occupied,” Gyang said.

The reported takeover is part of a wider pattern of attacks in Bokkos LGA and Mushere Chiefdom, where several communities have been repeatedly raided, leading to mass displacement, loss of lives and destruction of livelihoods. Local leaders say multiple villages in the area have been abandoned over the past year due to fear of further attacks.

Residents and community groups have accused authorities of failing to respond decisively, despite repeated appeals for help. Gyang said pleas to government agencies and security institutions have so far yielded little result, leaving affected communities feeling abandoned.

He appealed to both the Plateau State Government and the Federal Government to urgently intervene by restoring the displaced villagers to their ancestral homes, reclaiming occupied communities and strengthening security presence across vulnerable areas of Bokkos LGA.

Observers warn that unless decisive action is taken, continued occupation of rural communities could worsen food insecurity, fuel further displacement and entrench instability in Plateau State and the wider North-Central region.

Outrage in Plateau as Bandits Take Over Village, Force Residents to Flee