A reverend father, Mimang Lekyil, was shot dead by unknown armed men in the quiet Kwakas community of Mushere District, Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, on Sunday night. The attackers stormed the priest’s residence at about 9:00 p.m. while his household was preparing to go to bed.
According to local residents, the attackers are believed to be kidnappers who had earlier abducted two women from the reverend’s home. Fortunately, the women were later rescued after community youths and local vigilantes mobilized and gave chase. Despite the rescue, the attackers managed to kill the 70-year-old clergyman before fleeing.
Bishop Ayuba Matawal, who resides in Bokkos, confirmed the tragic event. “Yes, they shot the reverend father. The two women in the house were kidnapped but were later rescued by residents of the area who mobilised to trail the assailants. It is believed that they came to kidnap the reverend since they went with the women,” Bishop Matawal said.
The late priest’s body has been taken to the Luna Mortuary in Bokkos, according to sources close to the family.
Tensions rose sharply following the incident, leading to retaliatory actions in nearby Dingak village, a Fulani settlement in Mushere Central. Several houses belonging to members of the Fulani herding community were reportedly set ablaze by angry residents.
Saeed Adamu, a youth leader from the Fulani community in Bokkos, spoke out against both the killing and the destruction of property. He noted that there was no evidence linking members of his community to the murder.
“We heard about the story of the killing of the Reverend but there has been no investigation indicating the killing was committed by our members. This is how things are done. We called on the security agencies to investigate the matter,” Adamu said.
