Cleric's Widow Recounts Chilling Night Fulani Militias Stormed Bokkos, Executed Plateau Pastor Before Her Eyes

 

A grieving silence hangs over Kwakas-Mushere community in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State after Pastor Mimang Lekyil of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) was brutally killed in his home. The late pastor, who headed the Local Church Council (LCC) in the area, was murdered by suspected Fulani militias who stormed his residence at night, firing indiscriminately and leaving a trail of sorrow.

The tragedy unfolded as the cleric and his family prepared to retire for the night. His wife, Mrs. Lekyil, now confined to a hospital bed with shattered legs, recounted the dreadful experience in a tearful video interview shared by conflict journalist Masara Kim Usman. Her words painted a picture of fear, helplessness, and pain that will haunt the family and the entire community for years to come.

According to her, the attackers arrived suddenly and without warning. The sound of footsteps and strange movements in the yard were followed by the abrupt bursting open of doors. The widow described how a group of armed young men stormed into their home, all carrying guns, and immediately called out to her husband. Their words, spoken in Hausa, were chillingly direct as they ordered him to come forward.

She recalled that her husband had been feeling unwell that night and had just stepped out of the bathroom when the armed assailants confronted him. Out of instinct, she whispered for him to retreat into the bedroom while she clutched her visiting sister’s hand, hoping they could all hide. But before they could fully shut the door, one of the attackers spotted Pastor Lekyil and insisted he follow their command.

Mrs. Lekyil’s voice trembled as she narrated the sequence of events. She had believed the attackers only wanted to abduct him, perhaps for ransom, but what followed shattered that assumption. Within seconds, gunfire erupted inside the house. Bullets tore through the doors and walls as the attackers rained shots across the room where the family sought refuge. She was hit in the leg, collapsing in pain as her husband fell lifeless before her eyes.

The widow recounted that she waited, praying silently for the local vigilante group or nearby soldiers to respond, but help never came. The sound of gunfire echoed through the night, yet no intervention arrived. The attackers, apparently determined and unhindered, completed their assault with terrifying calm. When the shooting stopped, her husband lay dead, and she realized the men had also taken her sister hostage.

Neighbors later rushed to the scene after the gunmen retreated into the darkness. By that time, the pastor was already gone, and his home had become a place of mourning. The attack, one of several recent incidents in Bokkos and surrounding communities, has intensified fears among residents who say they have been repeatedly targeted by armed herders.

Community leaders have condemned the killing, describing it as part of a larger pattern of deliberate attacks on Christian communities across Plateau State. They lamented that security personnel stationed in the area often arrive long after the attackers have vanished, leaving residents feeling abandoned.

Local sources said eight people were killed in coordinated assaults that same night in different parts of Bokkos, suggesting that the operation was planned. Many survivors, including Mrs. Lekyil, believe the killing of Pastor Mimang was not random but a targeted execution. His leadership position within the church and community, they claim, made him a marked man.

The Church of Christ in Nations has since expressed deep sorrow over the killing, urging authorities to take decisive steps to end the wave of violence that has continued to plague Christian communities in the state. Church members described Pastor Lekyil as a humble and compassionate leader devoted to peace and reconciliation efforts in the area.

Residents of Bokkos say they now live in constant fear, as attacks have become increasingly frequent despite promises of enhanced security. Many families have fled their homes to seek refuge in nearby towns, leaving behind deserted villages and burnt houses.

For Mrs. Lekyil, the scars from that night are both physical and emotional. Her voice breaks each time she recalls how her husband, who moments earlier had been praying with his family, was gunned down in front of her. “He was a peaceful man. He did nothing to deserve this,” she lamented through tears.

The killing of Pastor Mimang Lekyil adds to the growing number of clergy and community leaders who have fallen victim to violence in central Nigeria. As authorities face renewed calls for justice and protection of rural communities, the widow’s account stands as a haunting reminder of the human cost of the ongoing crisis.