Plateau State woke up to another dark chapter as gunmen launched a deadly overnight assault on Zike hamlet in Kimakpa, Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area, leaving no fewer than 49 people dead. The brutal attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday, April 13, 2025, when most residents were fast asleep. Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunshots erupting from different directions, forcing people to flee into the night. By morning, bodies lay scattered, and homes had been burnt to the ground.
Sam Jugo, spokesperson for the Irigwe Development Association, confirmed the casualty figure and described the attack as a massacre. He said this tragedy added to the growing list of similar incidents targeting the Irigwe people, revealing that at least 75 individuals have been killed in the area since December 2024. He expressed concern over the ineffectiveness of local security forces, despite prior warnings and the presence of a drone station meant to assist with surveillance. According to him, even though security operatives were informed about the threat in advance, and the Sector 3 Commander mobilized troops to the area, it was not enough to prevent the bloodshed.
Residents identified the attackers as suspected Fulani militants, and frustration over the repeated violence is mounting. The local community is calling on the Federal and Plateau State governments to intervene immediately to prevent further escalation and humanitarian breakdown. Amid the grief, the Irigwe leadership has urged community members to remain calm and resist any urge for retaliation, placing faith in the authorities to bring the culprits to justice.
Reacting to the killings, the Plateau State Government expressed strong condemnation. Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, described the attack as deeply disturbing and said it threatens the fragile peace the state has been working hard to restore. She noted that this fresh assault comes just days after another deadly incident in Bokkos Local Government and appears to be an orchestrated attempt to destabilize the state. She assured residents that the Mutfwang-led administration is committed to identifying and prosecuting those behind the violence. While advising against reprisal attacks, she called for community vigilance and cooperation with security agencies.
In a separate but related incident, Nigerian troops achieved a breakthrough in the fight against insecurity by rescuing 16 kidnapped passengers along the Jos-Mangu road. The operation was launched after troops of Operation LAFIYAN JAMA’A discovered an abandoned vehicle at Mararaban Kantoma around 9 p.m. on the same night, April 13. Sensing foul play, the soldiers combed nearby bushes where they came under fire from the kidnappers. The troops responded with superior firepower, forcing the assailants to flee and abandon their captives.
Major Samson Zhakom, the Media Information Officer of Operation SAFE HAVEN, confirmed the rescue. Among the freed victims were six children. Some of the abducted individuals had sustained minor injuries and were given immediate medical attention before being escorted to safety.
While the rescue brings a glimmer of relief, the overall mood in Plateau remains one of mourning, frustration and uncertainty. With attacks becoming more frequent and deadly, the people are looking to the government and security forces not just for words of comfort but for real action that will restore peace and protect lives.
