In the wake of coordinated attacks on communities within the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, search and rescue teams have recovered an additional 40 bodies, bringing the confirmed death toll to 52. The affected villages include Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna (Tagai), Hurti, and Tadai. According to state officials, arrests have been made concerning the Wednesday night attacks.

Farmasum Fuddang, Chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, reported that a mass burial was held for 31 victims on Thursday. He detailed the horrific circumstances, noting that five underage victims were burned to ashes in Hurti village, 11 were killed in Ruwi village, four in Manguna, and one in Dafo.

The Plateau State government, through Information and Communication Commissioner Joyce Ramnap, extended condolences to the bereaved families. The government statement outlined measures being taken to enhance security, including increased intelligence gathering, surveillance, and rapid response mechanisms. Commissioner Ramnap urged religious, traditional, and community leaders to promote peace, unity, and lawful conduct, while advising residents to remain law-abiding and report security concerns through official channels.

Residents from the impacted communities recounted the sudden and brutal nature of the attacks, stating that the assailants shot indiscriminately, catching them off guard.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government's handling of security, attributing the widespread killings to a failure in President Bola Tinubu’s security architecture. He lamented that such incidents have become commonplace across Nigeria, with many going unreported. Similarly, Dachung Bagos, a former member of the House of Representatives from Plateau State, condemned the killings as barbaric and called for the urgent creation of community police to protect vulnerable areas.

Bagos urged the National Assembly to expedite the enactment of state police laws, empowering state governments and local communities to manage their security needs effectively. He also expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life, particularly in Ruwi village, and urged the federal government to intensify efforts to ensure the safety and security of citizens in Plateau State.

The Commissioner of Information and Communication, Hon Joyce Ramnap, reiterated the government’s commitment to the safety and security of all Plateau residents. She confirmed that security agencies have been deployed to dominate the affected villages to restore normalcy and that arrests have been made, which are expected to help in addressing the crisis. Ramnap urged citizens to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and cooperate with law enforcement agents.