No fewer than 25,000 residents have been displaced while 37 others have been killed following a series of coordinated attacks by bandits on communities in Mushere District, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Mushere Youths Movement (MUYOM), a socio-cultural group, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing in Jos.
The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Kutyil Gashion, said the communities came under repeated siege between May 25 and August 7, leading to the destruction of 55 houses, farmlands, worship centres, schools, hospitals, and other public infrastructure worth millions of naira.
Gashion listed some of the affected communities as Margif, Mbor, Nina, Nawala, and Fogoldep, adding that livestock were also rustled while crops were deliberately destroyed.
“No fewer than 37 people lost their lives, many sustained injuries and property worth millions of naira were destroyed during the attacks.
Livestock were carted away, and over 25,000 people are currently taking refuge in two major camps,” he said.
The MUYOM spokesperson described the destruction of farmlands as “economic sabotage,” warning of an impending hunger crisis not just in Mushere but across neighbouring districts that depend on its agricultural output.
“The attacks began shortly after our people cultivated their farms. Now they cannot tend their crops, and cattle are left to graze freely on the fields. This is not a farmer-herder clash; it is a calculated attempt to cripple our economy and displace our people,” he lamented.
Gashion urged the Federal Government to deploy additional security forces to the area and establish permanent security bases to forestall further bloodshed.
He also appealed to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to extend relief support to the victims.
While commending Governor Caleb Mutfwang and President Bola Tinubu for steps taken so far, the youth leader called for “more proactive and decisive actions” to halt the carnage.
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