The Plateau State Police Command has reported the killing of 96 people and the burning of 221 homes in two local government areas in what many are describing as a Black Christmas.
Gunmen attacked Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi simultaneously, the police said, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, without resistance.
Locals said 23 villages were attacked in the two local governments, but the police have put the number of communities at 15.
“On December 24, at about 10 p.m., gunmen attacked 15 villages in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas simultaneously,” police spokesman Alfred Alabo said on Tuesday in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
“Findings from the assessment of the incident in Bokkos revealed that the 12 villages were attacked; more than 79 persons were killed, and 221 houses were set ablaze.
“Twenty-seven motorcycles and eight vehicles were equally burnt down.
“Three communities were attacked in Barkin-Ladi where 17 persons were killed.”
Alabo listed the attacked villages in Bokkos Local Government Area as Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat and Butura Kampani; and the affected communities in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area are NTV, Hurum and Darawat.
He said investigations and monitoring were ongoing.
