Gunmen kill Plateau community leader days after son’s release

Suspected gunmen have killed the Mishkaham of Bokkos, Jatau Yohanna Samkwar, days after his son was released from kidnappers in Plateau State.

Samkwar was attacked at his residence in Daffo, Bokkos Local Government Area, on October 13 and later died at a hospital in Mangu from gunshot injuries, community leaders said.

The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, confirmed the killing, describing it as another tragedy for the Mwaghavul people.

Dabit said the community leader’s son, Zuhumnan Nanle, was kidnapped on October 3 and released on October 12, a day before the attack on his father.

He alleged that the gunmen who attacked Samkwar were the same people who kidnapped his son, although the claim has not been independently verified.

The association condemned the killing and called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute those responsible. It also urged an end to what it described as the selective killing of its people.

Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, Kefas Mallai, also confirmed the incident, saying the attackers shot Samkwar in the leg before he was taken to hospital and later referred to another facility.

Mallai expressed concern over the frequency of attacks in the area, saying killings and other security incidents had become increasingly common.

“The incidents are too many in Bokkos. Almost every day, somebody is killed or something happens,” he said, lamenting that some residents had become accustomed to hearing reports of violence.

Despite the insecurity, Mallai said residents continued to attend markets and operate their businesses, even as concerns over their safety persisted.

The killing adds to security concerns in Bokkos, where residents continue to face attacks and other violent incidents.