A solemn atmosphere enveloped the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State today as dozens of victims of a recent brutal attack were laid to rest in a mass burial, with grieving families, community leaders, and sympathizers in attendance.
The burial followed a violent raid by suspected armed assailants on several communities in the area, which left scores of villagers dead, homes razed, and many injured. The tragic incident has sent shockwaves across the nation and drawn widespread condemnation from civil society, religious institutions, and political leaders.
The victims, mostly women, children, and elderly residents, were buried in a specially designated location amidst prayers, tears, and calls for justice. Community members wailed as bodies wrapped in white shrouds were lowered into the mass grave, symbolizing the collective pain of a people still grappling with repeated waves of violence.
Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, represented by a delegation at the burial ceremony, described the attack as "barbaric and senseless," calling on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to end the recurring bloodshed in the Middle Belt region.
“We cannot continue to bury our people like this,” said a visibly emotional local chief. “We demand urgent protection, accountability, and peace. This cycle of killings must stop.”
State security officials have confirmed that investigations are underway and patrols have been reinforced across the affected areas. However, community members say they continue to live in fear, with many now displaced and living in temporary shelters.
Humanitarian agencies, including the Red Cross and NEMA, have been mobilized to provide support to survivors and displaced persons. Aid workers on the ground report an urgent need for food, medical care, and psychological support, particularly for children who witnessed the carnage.
Religious leaders at the burial urged unity and non-retaliation, even as they decried the rising rate of attacks on rural communities across Nigeria. Rev. Samuel Dachollom, who led prayers during the ceremony, said, “This is not just a Plateau tragedy; it is a national wound. We must all rise together to restore peace and justice.”
The mass burial has once again brought attention to Nigeria’s lingering security challenges, particularly in agrarian communities caught in the crossfire of communal clashes, banditry, and ethnic tensions.