The people of Chakfem Chiefdom in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State have raised alarm over what they describe as a coordinated plan by armed Fulani bandits to forcefully occupy their ancestral lands.

Speaking at a press conference in Jos on Friday, Da Simon Takbang, President of the Chakfem Youth Movement, narrated how gunmen numbering over 1,000 stormed several villages in the chiefdom on Monday night.

According to him, the attackers killed more than 15 residents, displaced over 2,000 people, and left many others injured. The villages affected include Manden, Tim, Mhidihin, Jibin, Jiblang, Koppang, and Jilem.

“They fired at sleeping residents, killing those who couldn’t escape, while others sustained injuries. They also set houses and worship centers on fire, looted food silos, and carted away livestock,” Takbang said.

He listed some of the victims, including a four-month-old baby, Yilshwal Godwin, and an 80-year-old grandmother, Na Rifkatu Katde, among others — highlighting the devastating human toll of the attack.

The community leader insisted the attacks were not random but “well-planned and strategically executed” to dispossess the people of their lands and alter the demographic structure of the area.

While commending the government for the swift deployment of security operatives and provision of relief materials, Takbang stressed that more permanent solutions are needed.

“We call on the Federal and State Governments to station security personnel permanently in our communities and support the rebuilding of destroyed villages. Our terrain makes quick intervention difficult, so road networks must also be improved,” he appealed.

The community has urged authorities to urgently apprehend the perpetrators and ensure justice for the victims.