The bloodshed in Plateau State has escalated once again as at least 40 people were killed in a fresh attack on Zike community in the Kimakpa, Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area.
Local leader Wakili Tongwe confirmed the attack, saying gunmen stormed the community in the early hours of Monday, firing on fleeing residents. Speaking to Channels Television, Tongwe revealed that he and a team of vigilantes, along with security forces, were patrolling a nearby area when the attackers struck.
Although security agents responded and eventually repelled the attackers, the toll was devastating. Thirty-six people were reportedly killed on the spot, while four others died from their injuries. Dozens more were wounded and are receiving treatment in nearby hospitals.
Security agencies have not yet released an official statement on the latest violence, which comes less than two weeks after 52 people were killed in a similar attack in Bokkos Local Government Area.
The region has faced unending violence for decades, with much of the conflict believed to stem from disputes between farmers and herders. However, the increasing scale and coordination of recent attacks have sparked fears of a broader agenda.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, speaking recently on Channels Television’s Politics Today, described the situation as “genocide sponsored by terrorists,” dismissing claims that the crisis is merely about land.
The governor revealed a chilling detail: 64 communities in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom LGAs have been taken over and renamed by armed groups, displacing original inhabitants.
“As I am talking to you, there are not less than 64 communities that have been taken over by bandits on the Plateau. They have been taken over, renamed, and people are living there conveniently on lands they pushed people away to occupy,” Mutfwang said.
In response, the Federal Government has promised stronger action.
Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate deployment of tactical units to the affected areas to curb further bloodshed and protect communities.
https://timesngr.com/2025/04/14/breaking-40-killed-as-fresh-attack-rocks-plateau-community/
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