Gunmen Kill 10 Mourners at Wake-keep in Plateau

At least 10 people have been confirmed dead after suspected gunmen attacked mourners during a wake-keep ceremony at Ruwi Village in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State on Thursday night.

According to reliable sources, the gunmen stormed the community around 10:00 PM, opening fire on the mourners who were gathered to grieve the loss of their loved ones.

Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Adesina, expressed his condolences in a statement issued in Jos. The statement, confirmed by the Command’s Spokesman DSP Alfred Alabo, described the attack as a tragic event that resulted in the deaths of several innocent community members, with others suffering varying degrees of injury.

The statement detailed that, on March 27, 2025, around 9:20 PM, armed hoodlums entered the village and began shooting indiscriminately at the mourners. The police were immediately alerted, and the Commissioner of Police directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Bokkos to deploy officers to the scene. Additional personnel and operational assets were also mobilized from the State Headquarters to Bokkos and nearby areas.

CP Adesina personally visited the site of the attack to assess the situation and extend condolences to the families of the victims. He assured the public that the police would make every effort to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“The Command is committed to ensuring the safety and security of lives and properties,” the statement read. “We will ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are arrested and face the full consequences of the law.”

The Plateau State Government also condemned the killings, with the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Joyce Ramnap, expressing the state’s sympathies to the victims’ families. The government denounced the attack, calling it a violent act that undermines efforts to foster peace and harmony within the state.

“The Barrister Caleb Mutfwang administration will not tolerate the brutal killings of innocent citizens,” the statement said. “Security agencies have been instructed to track down the perpetrators and ensure justice is served.”

The government urged citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities as investigations continue. Governor Caleb Mutfwang offered prayers for the victims’ families, asking for strength to bear the loss and for healing for the injured.