Jos, Nigeria – At least 47 people were brutally killed on Sunday night following a fresh attack by armed gunmen on Zike and Kimakpa communities in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.
The attack, which took place around 8:00 p.m., comes just days after a similar massacre in the Bokkos LGA, where over 52 lives were lost in coordinated assaults.
Speaking to journalists, Danjuma Auta, the National Secretary of the Irigwe Development Association, confirmed the number of casualties and extensive property destruction.
“It resulted in the deaths of 47 people and left many others injured. Many houses were razed down, and properties were equally destroyed,” Auta said.
Security Response & Growing Concerns.
Brigadier-General Gakji Shipi (Rtd.), the Acting Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, a state-backed security outfit, also confirmed the attack. Shipi, who doubles as the Special Adviser on Internal Security to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, described the incident as a “major setback” to peacebuilding efforts in the region.
“The government and security agencies are on top of the situation, and we will soon nip these ugly incidents in the bud,” he assured.
However, the National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Youth Movement, Joseph Yonkpa, raised concerns over the delayed response of security operatives. Yonkpa said the community had issued warnings hours before the attack, but no preemptive measures were taken.
“The security people only showed up this morning,” he lamented, adding that the wounded were taken to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and nearby facilities for treatment.
A Recurring Tragedy: Plateau’s Troubled Heartland.
This latest massacre adds to the wave of bloodshed sweeping across Plateau State. Just last week, on April 2, a deadly raid in Hurti, Josho, Daffo, and nearby communities in Bokkos LGA left over 40 people dead and nearly 1,000 displaced.
During an assessment visit led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Samuel Jatau, the village head of Hurti, Maren Aradong, revealed the devastating extent of the attack.
“They came in numbers on motorcycles and attacked us. They killed more than 40 people and burned 383 houses. They looted foodstuffs and destroyed everything in sight,” Aradong said.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has since described the attacks as a coordinated campaign of violence, suggesting it is being orchestrated by conflict merchants, rather than traditional farmer-herder disputes.
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State Response & Humanitarian Aid.
The SSG expressed shock at the scale of destruction and extended the state government’s condolences. Relief items such as mattresses, rice, beans, maize, soap, noodles, and blankets were distributed to displaced families as temporary support.
“It is unfortunate that in this time and age, people can attack, kill, and destroy without remorse. We are here with relief materials pending a more lasting solution,” Mr. Jatau said.Despite reassurances from the government and security forces, communities across Plateau State remain on edge, with calls growing louder for federal intervention, more effective intelligence gathering, and proactive security deployments.
