DHQ: Troops foiled attacks in 19 Plateau villages on Christmas Eve

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops foiled attacks on 19 villages in Plateau state on December 24, 2023. 

On Christmas Eve, over 115 persons were confirmed dead following attacks by gunmen on communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi LGAs of the state.

While speaking on Friday in Abuja, Edward Buba, defence media operations director, said the bandits carried out simultaneous attacks on other villages.

Buba said the intervention of the troops in affected LGAs forced some of the militants to flee.

The DHQ spokesperson said over 100 bandits carried out the attacks, adding that the troops received distress calls from 36 different locations.

“Sadly, events turned gloomy with the attack on Bokkos LGA and some parts of Barkin Ladi LGA on Dec. 24. It should be noted that Bokkos and Barkin Ladi LGAs span about 2,315 square kilometres with over 350 villages, mostly dispersed,” NAN quoted Buba as saying. 

“The distance between some of these villages and troops’ locations is over 90 kilometres and sometimes difficult to access because of the rugged terrain, mostly inaccessible to vehicles.

“Thus, affecting the reaction time to incidents, except when there is credible intelligence before the attack.”

“Troops responded to the calls and were able to intervene in 19 villages forcing the militants to withdraw.

“Unfortunately, the havoc had been committed before troops arrived at the other villages.”

Buba said the troops had initiated kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the second half of the year, which significantly curtailed attacks between farmers and herders in the state.

“Until the recent killings in Plateau during Christmas, the highlighted measures visibly contributed to the relative peace in Plateau, as well as the adjoining areas in Bauchi, Taraba and Kaduna states,” he said.

“Similarly, the activities of Operation Whirl Stroke significantly checkmated armed banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.”

Buba assured that the military had taken necessary measures to overcome all identified challenges and ensure that such tragic occurrences are avoided in the future.