…emotional testimony of the Bokkos Woman surfaced in a video shared on social media.
Bokkos, Nigeria – The iNews Times reports that a Bokkos Woman has come forward with disturbing allegations following the deadly April 9 attack on Mbwelle village in Kwatas district of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, claiming soldiers failed to respond to desperate distress calls while gunmen killed more than 20 residents.
The Bokkos Woman, who lost eight members of her family during the invasion by suspected Fulani militia, accused troops deployed under Operation Ensuring Peace of abandoning the community at a critical moment and later positioning their gun truck near a Fulani settlement where the attackers allegedly retreated.
The emotional testimony of the Bokkos Woman surfaced in a video shared on social media by conflict journalist Kim Masara Usman on Sunday. In the widely circulated footage, she detailed the traumatic events of the night gunmen stormed her village.
“We Called the Soldiers”
According to the Bokkos Woman, the attackers entered Mbwelle village at night, firing shots and causing widespread panic. Community youths and elders, she said, immediately contacted soldiers stationed less than three kilometres away, pleading for urgent intervention.
“When the Fulani killers came to our village that night and started shooting at the people, our youths and elders called the soldiers who were stationed less than three kilometers away. We pleaded with them to come to our aid but they refused to come,” she stated.
The Bokkos Woman alleged that the attack lasted for over two hours without any military response.
She said the gunmen reportedly shouted religious slogans while shooting sporadically and breaking into homes.
“The attackers were there for more than two hours, killing our people, but the soldiers did not come,” she said.
Eight Family Members Killed
For the Bokkos Woman, the tragedy was deeply personal. She recounted how eight members of her family were killed inside their home, including her brother’s pregnant wife.
“They killed my father, my brothers, my young nephews, and my brother’s wife who was pregnant,” she said in visible distress.
Community sources cited in the video indicated that more than 20 people died in the Mbwelle village attack, though official casualty figures have yet to be independently confirmed by authorities.
The Bokkos Woman questioned why help never arrived despite repeated calls.
“How wicked could they be? What did these innocent people do to deserve such a death?” she lamented.
Alleged Positioning of Gun Truck
In what has generated widespread debate online, the Bokkos Woman further claimed that after the attackers left the village, they fled to Korong a nearby village reportedly earlier attacked and allegedly occupied by Fulani settlers.
She alleged that residents later discovered a gun truck belonging to Sector 5 of Operation Ensuring Peace stationed in front of the settlement.
According to the Bokkos Woman, the presence of the military vehicle gave the impression that soldiers were providing security to the settlement while Mbwelle residents were left unprotected.
“As if that was not enough, we later realized that the soldiers had stationed their gun truck in front of Korong,” she said.
As of press time, military authorities have not publicly responded to the allegations raised by the Bokkos Woman.
Renewed Concerns Over Security in Plateau
The testimony of the Bokkos Woman has intensified conversations about security response mechanisms in Plateau State, particularly in rural communities that have experienced recurring violence.
Bokkos Local Government Area has witnessed cycles of deadly clashes over the years, often linked to farmer-herder tensions. Residents have repeatedly expressed concerns about delayed security interventions during attacks.
Security analysts note that allegations such as those made by the Bokkos Woman, if not swiftly addressed, can further erode public confidence in security operations.
Operation Ensuring Peace was established to maintain stability and prevent precisely such outbreaks of violence. The fresh claims now place the task force under renewed scrutiny.
Displacement and Fear
Beyond the fatalities, the attack has reportedly displaced several families. Survivors are said to have fled to neighboring communities for safety, abandoning homes and farmlands.
Local leaders warn that repeated violence in Bokkos is worsening humanitarian conditions and threatening food production in the agrarian area.
For the Bokkos Woman, however, the issue goes beyond policy debates and operational reviews. It is about justice and accountability.
Her testimony has become a powerful symbol of the grief and anger felt in Mbwelle village.
Awaiting Official Response
As investigations are expected to unfold, residents of Bokkos are demanding clarity regarding the timeline of events, the response to distress calls, and the operational decisions taken that night.
The iNews Times will continue to monitor developments surrounding the allegations made by the Bokkos Woman and provide verified updates as authorities respond.
For now, the voice of the Bokkos Woman echoes across Plateau State a reminder of the human toll of insecurity and the urgent need for trust between communities and those assigned to protect them.
