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A wave of terror has struck Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where gunmen killed at least 27 people in coordinated attacks across four communities between Sunday and Tuesday, June 8-10, 2025. The violence, which targeted the settlements of Langai, Gyambwos, Kubwon, Chinchim, and Feer, has left residents in fear and mourning.
Honourable Mathew Kwarpo, the lawmaker representing Mangu South in the Plateau State House of Assembly, also revealed that terrorists have seized over 30 hectares of farmland, deepening the crisis in the region.
This comes on the heels of a six-day siege in neighbouring Bokkos Local Government Area last week, where gunmen killed residents and burned houses and properties, further escalating tensions in Plateau State.
The attacks began in the early hours of Sunday, June 8, when suspected killer herdsmen stormed Langai, a district under Gindiri in Mangu. They fired indiscriminately, killing eight people, mostly women and children, and injuring many others who are now receiving treatment in local hospitals. On Monday, the gunmen struck Gyambwos, launching a midnight raid that lasted nearly three hours and claimed seven lives.
The violence continued into Tuesday, with Feer Hamlet attacked at 2:00 a.m., resulting in seven deaths, and later that evening, four more people were killed in Chinchim village at around 8:30 p.m. Honourable Kwarpo confirmed the devastating toll, stating, “From Sunday to Tuesday, we lost 27 people from various communities in the local government. Houses were burnt, and many are in critical condition in hospitals.”
The lawmaker expressed deep frustration, noting that Mangu has been “under siege” since the 2023 elections, with repeated attacks aimed at displacing residents and seizing their land. “They come with guns to kill us. Many of our people have been killed, and our lands have been seized.
This didn’t just start on Monday or Tuesday—since 2023, we’ve been facing this mayhem,” Kwarpo said. He highlighted that the terrorists have taken control of at least 30 hectares of farmland, chasing away farmers sent by the state government to cultivate the land. This loss of farmland threatens food security in the region, as Mangu is known for its fertile agricultural land.
The recent violence in Mangu follows a pattern of deadly attacks in Plateau State, with Bokkos Local Government Area enduring a six-day siege last week that left a trail of destruction. Gunmen burned houses, destroyed properties, and killed residents, adding to the growing list of casualties in the state.
The attacks in Mangu and Bokkos are part of a long-standing conflict often linked to tensions between local farmers, who are predominantly Christian, and Fulani herders, some of whom are accused of carrying out these assaults. Previous incidents, such as the May 2023 attacks in Mangu that killed over 100 people, have been attributed to similar disputes over land and resources, with little progress in holding perpetrators accountable.
Residents are living in fear, with many unable to return to their farms due to the ongoing threat. The attacks have also sparked outrage, with community leaders and lawmakers demanding urgent action. Kwarpo called on security agencies to step up efforts to protect lives and property, describing the situation as a “humiliation” of the people of Mangu.
He urged the government to address the root causes of the violence and ensure justice for the victims. The Plateau State Police Command has not yet provided detailed comments on the latest attacks, but the state government has condemned the violence, with Governor Caleb Mutfwang describing it as “unacceptable” and vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The crisis in Mangu and Bokkos adds to the growing insecurity in Plateau State, where over 200 people were killed in attacks in 2023 alone, including a Christmas Eve massacre that claimed 195 lives across 17 communities.
The United Nations and local groups have called for investigations into these killings, with accusations that security forces have failed to act decisively. As the people of Mangu mourn their loved ones and struggle to reclaim their land, there is a desperate call for stronger security measures, community dialogue, and government intervention to end the cycle of violence and restore peace to Plateau State.
