‘Bandits sacked our village, turned our church into a mosque’ – Plateau community leader laments
Community Leader Describes Invasion by Bandits in Plateau State
A community leader in the Mushere Chiefdom of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, detailed a harrowing account of an invasion by armed Fulani bandits that forced residents from their homes and resulted in the renaming of their village.
Amos Gyang spoke during a charity event hosted by the Plateau Unite Foundation in Jos on Sunday. He recounted the attack, which occurred last year, when bandits killed more than ten individuals and drove the remaining residents from their ancestral lands.
Gyang emphasized that the assault was unexpected, as the community had coexisted peacefully with local Fulani for years. “Before the attack, we did not have any issues with them,” he said. “Some of them had lived with us for several years and even spoke our language. We took them as our brothers, not knowing that they had bad plans for us.”
The community leader described how the attackers, armed with deadly weapons, not only claimed lives but also seized land, livestock, and crops. “They changed the name of the village and turned our church into a mosque,” Gyang added.
Since the invasion, many residents have sought refuge in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, enduring difficult living conditions. Gyang noted that some individuals have resorted to begging to support their families.
“Our life has not been the same since that day,” he said. “Our fertile land is being occupied by the Fulani. We have now become beggars just to feed our families.”
Gyang expressed frustration over the lack of government response, stating that previous appeals for assistance have gone unacknowledged. “We believe that one day, our prayers will be answered and we will go back to our ancestral land,” he said.
