The death toll from recent attacks on communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria, has risen to 52, according to local authorities.
The surge follows the recovery of 40 additional bodies during ongoing search efforts on Wednesday and Thursday night.
The attacks, which targeted multiple villages, have reignited fears of escalating violence in a region that continues to grapple with communal tensions.
Chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Council Vanguard, Farmasum Fuddang, told Channels Television that 31 victims were laid to rest in a mass burial on Thursday.
Among the deceased were five children reportedly burned to death in Hurti village. Eleven more were killed in Ruwi, four in Manguna, and one in Daffo village.
Rescue teams are continuing to comb nearby forests for missing persons, particularly in Hurti and Mbar villages.
The Plateau State Government condemned the attacks and appealed for calm.
In a statement on Friday, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, described the renewed violence as a significant setback to recent security efforts in the region.
“Security agencies have deployed and dominated these areas to ensure normalcy returns at the shortest possible time,” Ramnap stated.
She added that several arrests have been made and expressed hope that these would help curb further violence.
She urged residents to refrain from retaliation and assured them of the government’s commitment to restoring peace through improved intelligence, surveillance, and rapid response initiatives.
Traditional, religious, and community leaders were also called upon to promote peace and unity.
Tensions have been running high in Plateau State since a deadly Christmas Day attack in 2023 left around 200 people dead in a majority-Christian village.
The region has seen repeated outbreaks of violence, including an attack in Wase in May last year, which left 40 people dead and several homes destroyed.
Residents are being encouraged to remain law-abiding and report security concerns through official channels.
