Suspected Fulani bandits have killed eight residents in Mbwelle Village, Kwatas District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, in what authorities described as a renewed wave of reprisal attacks.

The attack reportedly occurred at about 10:30 p.m. on April 9, according to security sources.

The incident was disclosed in a post on X by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security analyst focused on the Lake Chad region.

The victims were identified as Habila Istifanus (38), Hassan Istifanus (31), Iliya Mangut (70), Sunday Gideon (31), Innocent Banabas (20), Lucky Titus (38), Wisdom Lucky (15), and Bwehsun Hassan (25).

Joint security forces said they responded to a distress call but did not encounter the attackers, who had fled the scene before their arrival.

A security source attributed the delayed response to the distance—about 15 kilometres—between the troops’ base and the community, as well as difficult terrain.

All casualties, including those injured, were evacuated to Bokkos Cottage Hospital.

Troops have since launched operations to track down the assailants.