Plateau State is once again reeling from a wave of deadly violence, following a brutal night attack on Zike community in Bassa Local Government Area.
Armed assailants, suspected to be Fulani herders, stormed the predominantly Christian farming village late Sunday, killing at least 40 residents, including children and the elderly.
The attackers also looted and set homes ablaze, forcing many to flee their homes.
The massacre adds to an already grim tally of bloodshed in the region.
9News Nigeria reports that between December 2023 and February 2024, Amnesty International documented over 1,300 deaths in Plateau alone, including 533 women and 263 children.
More than 29,000 people were displaced during that period due to persistent communal violence, largely fueled by land disputes and ethno-religious tensions.
In response to the latest atrocity, President Bola Tinubu condemned the killings and called for a comprehensive investigation.
He tasked Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, with taking urgent and decisive steps to restore peace and security across the state, declaring “enough is enough.”
The Inspector General of Police has since deployed a tactical unit to bolster security in affected communities.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division and Operation SAFE HAVEN recently rescued 16 kidnapped passengers along the Jos-Mangu highway, in what authorities described as a sign of ongoing security operations in the region.
However, human rights groups have criticized the government’s handling of the crisis.
Amnesty International described the latest killings as an “inexcusable security failure,” warning that without addressing the root causes of the violence, peace will remain elusive.
