At least 49 people were reportedly killed on Sunday in another string of attacks in Zike-Kimakpa community, in Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. 

Sources from the area said the attacked village, which is under Irigwe Chieftaincy, also left many people injured, who were taken to various hospitals, including Bingham University Teaching Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital.

This came barely two weeks after devastating attacks were launched on communities of Bokkos Local Government Area of the state where over 80 people were killed and many others injured. During the Bokkos attacks, many houses were also burned. 

The reason of the Sunday attack is not yet known, however, some persons in the area say it may be linked to a series of isolated killings which took place through the week.  A security expert who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday said unless the root cause of the problems on the Plateau are addressed, the attacks will continue.

Confirming the latest incident in Bassa, Samuel Jugo, spokesperson of Irigwe Development Association (IDA) said the attacks started around 8:pm, when the gunmen stormed the community and started shooting sporadically. 

Jugo said, “the leadership of Irigwe Development Association (IDA) woke up to yet another massacre at Zike hamlet, Kwall, Bassa LGA of Plateau State at about midnight of Sunday 13th April, 2025. According to witnesses at the scene, sporadic gunshots were heard from multiple locations and by morning, 49 corpses were recovered. This is aside the persons injured which have not been ascertained yet. The perpetrators, according to the residents, were Fulani.

But, a Fulani leader in the area, Ardo Lawal Haruna, denied allegation of the attack, saying the Fulani community in Kwall district is living peacefully with other members of the area.

The leadership of IDA, also claimed that they heard of the attack prior to its occurrence and had reported to the security agents in the area to prevent it but to no avail. 

Jugo said, “Residents said there were rumours before the attacks and that the security agents stationed in the area were notified. I spoke with the Sector 3 Commander and he confirmed the story and mobilised his men to Kwall, but alas the carnage still took place. This is in addition to the nine persons killed last week. From December 2024 to date, the Irigwe nation has recorded not less than 75 deaths. This assault on a peace loving people on their motherland is very provocative, vexing and undeserving. 

 “We use this medium to call on the federal government and the Plateau State government to intervene before the already precarious situation snowballs into a major humanitarian catastrophe. Once again, we appeal to all Irigwe natives and the general public to remain calm during this mourning period, trusting that the security will do the needful to restore the confidence of the people”, he added. 

We are not responsible for the incident – Fulani community

Lawal Haruna, who denied the allegation leveled against their members, said they were not aware of the incident but condemned it in its entirety.

He said, “I have just heard of the incident but it was not perpetrated by members of the Fulani community in Kwall general area. We have been living in peace with Irigwe ethnic group, and they know we cannot commit such attack. The allegation against us is not true. We condemn the incident and call on security agencies to do their work and fish out the perpetrators of the attack. I am calling on the security to unravel those behind it.”

The attack

Victims of the attack in Zike-Kimakpa community narrated how the incident occurred.

Jerry Mwa, acting chairman, Kimakpa Community, said, “We were sleeping when the gunmen stormed the community. All of a sudden, we started hearing gunshots. We didn’t know from which direction because gunshots were almost from different directions. We didn’t know where to run to. Before we could do anything, the gunmen had invaded the community. We woke up with our children and fled. More than 40 houses were burnt and many people were killed”.

Another victim, Elvis Stephen said, “we were sleeping when we started hearing gunshots. The attackers came in mass, shooting sporadically. I saw them burning houses and killing people. We are calling on the government to come to our rescue. People are leaving the villages because of fear of the unknown. We need peace please.”

Tina Gona, also a resident of the community, who lost her husband in the attack, said, “we were already asleep when we heard gunshots. We got terrified and began to scamper for safety. But many of us got caught up in the process as the attackers came in large numbers with guns and machetes. Our house was burnt down resulting in my husband’s death”.

Timeline of killings

On April 2, 2025, three farmers were killed in Dundu community, Bassa Local Government Area (LGA).

On April 7, 2025, Hurra village in Kimakpa District came under attack and three farmers were killed.

On April 8, 2025, three separate attacks were launched on Zashi  and MODACS Hotel communities of Kwall district and Twin Hill (Gyu) community of Miango district of Bassa LGA; two farmers were killed.

On April 9, five cattle were reportedly poisoned in Keweke community of Bassa LGA.

Also on April 9, a herder was killed and his cattle were rustled in Ariri community of Miango district of Bassa LGA.

Still on April 9, 2025, several cattle were reportedly poisoned in Zoronvic, Miango district of Bassa LGA. 

On April 12, 2025, a father and his sons who were both farmers were attacked and killed in Zogu village of Miango district, Bassa LGA.

Plateau government directs security to go after perpetrators

The Plateau State government has condemned the attack by gunmen in Bassa community, describing it as unprovoked.

The Commissioner of Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, who condemned the incident said the attack “is one too many” and that these series of attacks pose an existential threat to the lives and livelihoods of the peace-loving people of the state. 

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“It is sad that in less than two weeks after our people were killed in Bokkos Local Government, this sad incident is reoccurring in another community in Bassa Local Government”, she added.

Ramnap described the attack as another attempt to puncture the peace that has gradually returned to the state, calling on the people to remain peaceful as government was working with security agencies to arrest the situation.  

The commissioner maintained that the Mutfwang administration was determined to deal decisively with anyone or group found culpable in attacking innocent persons in the state. She advised against reprisals and urged security operatives to go after the perpetrators.

Gbong Gwon condemns attack, calls for peace

The Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman of the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, His Majesty, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, has described the attack as barbaric and one too many. 

While condemning it, Gyang Buba commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the efforts he is making to revive Nigeria, but that no meaningful revival can take place if there is no peace. According to him, food is expensive across the country because farmers are not allowed to go to the farms due to attacks.

“It is sad that we woke up this morning to hear of another attack in Miango chiefdom. This attack is taking place not quite long after the devastating attack in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, where many people were killed. Let me say that this is sad and terrible,” he said.

Comments from security

Efforts to get comments on the latest development from the spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom, and that of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, were unsuccessful as they did not respond to messages sent to their phones. 

However, a source from OPSH confirmed the incident to Daily Trust. 

The military source, who said he was at the scene of the incident, said, “the community was attacked yesterday night. Initially, three people were killed and five injured and they were rushed to the hospital. But while taking the injured ones to the hospital, one other person died.”

The source further stated that security forces have taken control of the community. 

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Expert speaks

A security expert gave insights into the lingering conflict in the state.  John Danboyi, a conflict practitioner in Jos, noted that the crisis in the state persists because the root causes have never been addressed. According to Danboyi, the conflict requires a multi-dimensional and holistic approach. 

He explained that bad governance has also contributed to the violence, adding that widespread hunger and limited opportunities were driving young people to engage in criminal activities.

Danboyi stated that, “Whenever there’s a conflict, authorities only distribute relief materials to the affected victims and then forget about the issue. Nobody investigates the real causes, driving factors, or actors involved. When people claim the conflict is religious in nature, it’s not entirely true. Religion can be a contributing factor, but it’s often used as a pretext to escalate the conflict.” 

Danboyi emphasised that solutions to every conflict lie with those directly affected, explaining, “only those who are affected can bring solutions to their problems. When they’re brought to the table to discuss the conflict, they’ll be able to proffer solutions”.  

He added, “to achieve this, the 4-Rs must be implemented: Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Reconciliation. If the government follows this approach and sincerely deals with insecurity, it would go a long way in resolving the conflict in Plateau. 

Tinubu urges gov to resolve crisis

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday expressed sorrow over the recent bloodshed in Plateau State.

The president, in a statement on Monday by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, condemned the violence and extended his sympathies to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the state government, and the people of Plateau.

President Tinubu urged the governor to summon the necessary political will to resolve the crisis and establish enduring peace.

In his call for harmony among the people of Plateau State, the president emphasised the importance of love and unity beyond religious and ethnic lines. 

He encouraged community, spiritual, and political leaders within and beyond the state to unite and end the cycle of retaliatory attacks that have made life unbearable for affected communities.

“The ongoing violence between communities in Plateau State, rooted in misunderstandings between different ethnic and religious groups, must cease,” President Tinubu said.

“I have instructed security agencies to thoroughly investigate this crisis and identify those responsible for orchestrating these violent acts. We cannot allow this devastation and the tit-for-tat attacks to continue. Enough is enough”, he said.

Plateau killings are ‘sponsored genocide’, bandits occupying 64 communities – Muftwang

It would be recalled that Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang last week described the ongoing violence across the state as a “sponsored genocide” aimed at wiping out entire communities.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today last Tuesday, the governor alleged that armed bandits had seized control of at least 64 villages.

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“I can tell you in all honesty that I cannot find any explanation other than genocide sponsored by terrorists. The question is, who are the people behind the organisers of this terrorism? This is what the security agencies must help us to unravel,” the governor said.

He stressed the importance of a coordinated effort among security agencies to uncover and dismantle the networks behind the violence.

“This is being sponsored from somewhere, and I am sure that in the coming days, the security agencies will work together — not at cross purposes but in unison — to generate the intelligence needed to help us put this matter behind us,” he added.

Governor Muftwang also revealed that armed groups have forcefully taken over and renamed numerous communities, displacing residents who are now unable to return to their ancestral lands.

“If these attacks have been going on for close to 10 years, it tells you that there is a deliberate, conscious attempt to clean out populations.

“As I am talking to you, there are not less than 64 communities that have been taken over by bandits on the Plateau between Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local governments.

“They have been taken over, renamed and people are living there conveniently on lands they pushed people away to occupy,” the governor said.

daily trust