At least 40 people were killed, and approximately 1,000 residents displaced during an attack last week on Hurti, a community in Manguna District of Bokkos Local Government Area in Plateau State. The tragic incident, which took place on April 2, also saw the destruction of 383 houses and the looting of food supplies, according to the Village Head of Hurti, Mr. Maren Aradong. Aradong made the disclosure during a visit by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Samuel Jatau, and other government officials who came to assess the damage on Sunday in Jos.
The attack, which targeted Hurti, Josho, Daffo, and several other villages in the locality, was carried out by armed gunmen who arrived on motorcycles. Aradong explained that the gunmen launched the assault at around 3 p.m. last Wednesday, killing over 40 people in Hurti alone. In addition to the loss of lives, the gunmen torched 383 houses, destroyed large quantities of foodstuff, and looted other valuables from the residents.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang had earlier condemned the violence, describing the attacks as a coordinated effort by conflict merchants rather than the commonly cited farmer-herder clashes that have plagued parts of the country. He expressed deep concern over the rising trend of targeted attacks across the state.
Retired Brigadier-General Gagji Shipi, the Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, Plateau’s state-owned security outfit, also confirmed the assault. Shipi noted that the incident posed a significant setback to the peace efforts within the state and assured that measures were being put in place to prevent future attacks.
During the visit, Jatau conveyed his condolences to the victims’ families and reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting the displaced persons. He called on the Federal Government to provide assistance to those affected by the attack. The government delegation, which included officials from various sectors, was in the community to assess the damage and offer immediate relief.
Jatau stated that the delegation’s visit aimed to directly evaluate the situation, expressing shock at the senselessness of the attack and the destruction of innocent lives and property. “It is unfortunate that in this day and age, people can attack, kill, and destroy without remorse,” Jatau remarked. He assured the people of Hurti that the state government would report back to Governor Mutfwang, who was already working towards a lasting solution to the crisis. He also informed the community that immediate relief materials, including mattresses, sleeping mats, buckets, bags of rice, beans, maize, blankets, and toiletries such as soap, were being distributed to the displaced victims.
The relief items were intended to alleviate some of the hardship the displaced people were facing while awaiting more comprehensive interventions from the state and federal governments.
