Residents of the entire Bokkos local government area of Plateau State, the home of former Governor Joshua Dariye, have expressed grave fears that terrorists may overrun and take over their entire land.

Bokkos Cultural Development Forum (BCDF) Vanguard, in a statement entitled ‘Imminent Risk Of Terrorist Takeover IN Bokkos Amid Sustained Attacks’, and signed by Chairman, Farmasum Fuddangs and Secretary, . Duwam Bosco, said that since the brutal murder of 50 people in Hurti village of the Manguna district in a single day, killings of residents had been a daily occurrence.

The statement said, “Since that April attack, more than 100 lives have been lost in ongoing assaults in Bokkos, with millions of dollars in properties, including crops, destroyed. Despite this, the world continues to overlook the imminent threat of annihilation faced by the remaining residents of Bokkos, whose presence at the border between Plateau State and Nasarawa State is the only barrier preventing terrorists from the northwest and northeast from overrunning Plateau State.

“In the last four days alone, at least two people have been killed and over 15 injured, some critically, in violent attacks targeting the Mushere district. Affected villages include Dimar, Hokk, Margif, Kopmur, Nina, Ikgngwaghap, and Fokholdep.

“These assaults have persisted since the murder of eight residents, including a pastor, in Kopmur village on May 26th. While authorities went to sleep, terrorist cells in the forests bordering Nasarawa State have swollen and expanded into residential areas.

“As of today, more than 10 villages have been completely deserted, with terrorists looting and demolishing remaining homes and food storage facilities. Across the district, crops including corn, potatoes and sugar cane nearing harvest have been destroyed across thousands of acres.

“With terrorists now freely roaming and shooting anyone in sight, including security personnel, we fear they are preparing to occupy these areas in the coming months. The strategy apparently is to keep pounding the surviving communities until they are completely annihilated or they get tired and flee, enabling them to takeover.

The consequences of this would enable terrorists to move freely from the northwest and northeast, where military operations have recently intensified, to capture territory and establish safer camps throughout Plateau State, utilizing various roads and bush paths in Bokkos and neighboring Mangu, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom local government areas.

“Already, several communities have been seized and turned into no-go zones for Christian natives across this region. One major town along the road to Bokkos — Lukfai, was displaced in similar manner as recently as 2015, and abandoned homes belonging to members of the Berom, Mwagavul, and Ron ethnic groups are now occupied without modification. Government authorities have witnessed this land grab and ethnic displacement in Plateau State and seem to ignore it.

“Currently, civilian guards risking their lives to prevent these incursions are being overwhelmed by both terrorists and military forces, which means soon there will be no one left to challenge these aggressions.

“We call on Governor Caleb Mutfwang to utilize his position and the newly constituted committee on land use to halt this criminality and rights violations before the entire state Is engulfed. We also demand the establishment of a joint civilian task force, similar to those in the northwest and northeast, to promote collaboration and effective community policing alongside the military.

“Additionally, we urge immediate action to raid emerging terrorist camps in Mushere and the prompt resettlement of displaced individuals, leveraging recent donations from committed groups and individuals, including the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Bola Tinubu.

“Finally, we call on our community members to remain resolute in their efforts to safeguard their fundamental right to life and existence, and we implore military and police authorities to support them as partners in this struggle.” (Saturday Sun, excluding headline)