Members of the Fulani community in Kwok village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, have alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) harassed residents during a security raid conducted on July 11.
The operation came amid intensified security activities by the DSS across several Plateau communities following a series of deadly midnight attacks that have claimed lives and displaced residents in parts of the state. Security agencies have stepped up operations in an effort to identify and apprehend those responsible for the violence.
According to community members, the operation involved intimidation and other forms of harassment. Some individuals also alleged that women were sexually assaulted during the raid. The community called on both the Plateau State Government and the Federal Government to investigate the operation and ensure accountability if any wrongdoing occurred.
However, the allegations took a dramatic turn following an invitation by the DSS for questioning.
After meeting with DSS officials, the women who had made the accusations were seen in a video denying that any rape or harassment had taken place. In the footage, one of the women is heard telling a DSS official that the alleged incident never happened, effectively retracting the earlier claims.
The circumstances surrounding the apparent change in the women’s account remain unclear.
As of the time of reporting, the DSS has not publicly issued a detailed statement addressing the initial allegations or the subsequent retraction.
Kwok village, located in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, has been at the center of longstanding security concerns. The community is among several villages where local residents fled due to repeated attacks, with the area now occupied by Fulani herders. The security situation in parts of Plateau State has remained a source of concern amid recurring communal violence and displacement.
