Death stol in Plato state attacks rises to 52 as the authorities continue to search

Authorities and community leaders confirmed that mass burials were held Thursday, including for 31 victims during a single ceremony. According to local officials, the death toll of the recent wave of violent attacks in the Bokkos local government area of ​​plateau states climbed to 52. The increase follows the discovery of 40 additional bodies during search and rescue operations performed on Wednesday and Thursday night. Authorities and community leaders confirmed that mass burials were held Thursday, including for 31 victims during a single ceremony. Among the dead were five children allegedly burned to ashes in the village of Hurti. Additional deaths include 11 in Ruwi, four in Manguna, and one in Daffo Village. The Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, by its chairman Farmasum Fuddang, revealed that the search for missing persons continues, especially in the Hurti and Mbar communities. The council has requested residents to remain vigilant as the search and rescue operations increase. In response to the attacks, the Plateau state government condemned the violence and appealed for calm. Information and communications Commissioner Joyce Ramnap expressed concern about the revival of violence and described it as a serious setback for recent efforts to restore peace and stability in the environment. “Security agencies have deployed and dominated these areas to ensure normalcy returns at the shortest possible time,” Ramnap said in a press release on Friday. “In addition, important arrests have been made by the security agencies, and it will hopefully help to stop the tide of this ugly situation.” Ramnap has called on residents to exert self -control and avoid retaliation steps, emphasizing that the government is being strengthened in partnership with security operations. She also called on religious, traditional and community leaders to promote peace and unity, and to ensure the citizens that the government is still committed to enforcing the law and bringing offenders before justice. The latest violence contributes to the growing tension in the Plato state, where more than 200 people died during Christmas 2023 celebrations in a predominantly Christian village. Similar incidents, including the attack in May 2024, which claimed about 40 lives and destroyed many homes, underlined the fragile security situation of the region. Residents are encouraged to remain law -abiding, working with security forces and reporting any suspicious activities by reporting official channels as attempts to restore peace.