Plateau State, Nigeria: Gunmen kill at least 18 in village attacks

Gunmen attacked the Kawel and Kopkon villages in the Mushere district of Bokkos LGA, Plateau State, in the early hours of June 20. Security sources said troops of Sector 5 under Operation Enduring Peace arrived around 1:20 a.m. and found 12 bodies in Kawel and six in Kopkon, bringing the confirmed death toll to 18. The assailants opened fire indiscriminately before fleeing, prompting an immediate security offensive to pursue them.

The incident follows a recent surge of violence in Plateau State, including attacks in May that left 12 people dead and a March raid that killed 27 residents in Jos North. Authorities have intensified patrols and deployments under Operation Enduring Peace, but rural communities continue to face lethal raids. Some reports later suggested the death count could be higher, with up to 21 persons feared killed.

Security forces vowed to track the perpetrators and bolster protection for vulnerable villages as the region grapples with ongoing insecurity.