Bandits have reportedly taken over a village in Mushere Chiefdom, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, forcing residents to flee and changing the identity of the community.
According to reports, the attackers allegedly renamed the village and converted a local church into a mosque after driving villagers from their homes. The incident has left several families displaced and unable to access their farmlands and property.
A community leader, Amos Gyang, disclosed this while speaking at a charity event organised by the Plateau Unite Foundation in Jos on Sunday. He said the invasion occurred in September 2025 and was carried out by armed bandits.
Gyang explained that the attack came as a shock to residents who had previously coexisted peacefully with Fulani settlers in the area for years.
He said the assailants stormed the village without warning, killed more than 10 residents and subsequently took control of the community. Survivors, he added, are now scattered across internally displaced persons (IDP) camps where many are struggling to survive under difficult conditions.
According to him, the attackers seized farmlands, livestock and homes after forcing residents out, while the reported renaming of the community and conversion of the church symbolised a complete takeover of their ancestral land.
“We were living in peace and going about our farming activities before the attack,” Gyang said, adding that many displaced families have resorted to begging to feed their children.
He appealed to both the Plateau State and Federal Governments to intervene, restore the community to its original inhabitants, and deploy stronger security presence to prevent further attacks in the area.
As of press time, security agencies had not issued an official statement confirming the incident or providing details on steps being taken.
