Gunmen launched a deadly attack on two Plateau State communities—Zike and Kimakpa—in the early hours of Monday, killing at least 51 people.
The assault, which occurred in Bassa Local Government Area, took place just a few kilometers from the 3 Division Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, raising serious concerns over the state of security and the military’s response to threats in the region.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a similar attack in Bokkos, another local government area in Plateau, where armed men killed 52 residents just two weeks ago.
Residents of Zike and Kimakpa, still reeling from the violence, expressed shock and disbelief that such an incident could unfold so close to a major military facility without any intervention.
Speaking in an interview with PUNCH, one resident said; “The fact that the attacks occurred without immediate intervention from the nearby military base has raised questions about the effectiveness of security measures in the area. Given the close proximity of the communities to the military base, it would be expected that security forces could respond quickly to such incidents.”
Many villagers shared similar frustrations, feeling abandoned by those tasked with their protection. Their sorrow has been made worse by the silence and inaction of security operatives stationed just minutes away from the scene.
Lancaster Akpa, 49, who hails from Kimakpa, lost nine family members in the attack. He said, “I was at home in Jos around midnight on Sunday when one of my brothers in the community called me on phone that they were killing our people in the village. I couldn’t sleep any longer after I heard the news. When I called the number back, it was switched off. There was nothing I could do that night,” Akpa said.
“Very early in the morning I set out to the village and found that the attack on the village and the killings were true. From what I gathered in the village, some of those who carried out the attack wore army camouflage while others were in mufti. But they could easily identify them as Fulani.
“So, in all, I lost nine relatives during the attack – two brothers and seven of their children. Not only that, two other relatives who were injured are in the hospital. It’s very devastating that these attacks occurred and apprehending the perpetrators and bringing them to justice is the only way to assuage the feelings of our people.”
For many survivors, the pain is still raw. In Zike, Jerry Muwa described the horrific events of that night. His son’s house was attacked by the gunmen, and when they couldn’t break down the door, they set it on fire, killing six children inside.
He said, “We were having a discussion on Sunday when suddenly we started hearing gunshots but we didn’t know the direction they were coming from. At first we thought it was far until we heard it close to us, then we immediately asked the women and children to go into hiding.
“Surprisingly, this people came very prepared, it was God that helped us because they came with the aim of wiping out the whole village, so, that by morning the village would be in ashes. God in His mercy saved us, but those who are gone God took with Him. All that has happened it’s just the grace of God that I am alive.
“These people came and kept banging my son’s door to no avail even after using their guns. When they could not break the door, they burnt the house with all the six children inside. We buried their ashes yesterday (Monday) because there were no bones or flesh, just their ashes. All we have to say is it’s the Lord’s doing and we leave them with God. That’s all i can tell you. I wish this tragedy never happened.”
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang visited both communities on Tuesday, meeting with victims, community leaders, and security chiefs. He expressed deep sorrow over the incident and offered his condolences. “We are here to mourn with you, to pay our respects to those whose lives were cut short by this senseless act of terror. The entire nation is grieving with you, and so is the international community,” the governor said.
He also acknowledged the state’s efforts to strengthen its security structure, admitting that despite heavy investment, challenges still remain. “I have wept since yesterday (Monday) because we believed that all necessary measures were in place to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies. We have made significant investments in security, but as with many human efforts, they sometimes fall short. However, this incident is a painful setback for us, especially as we have made considerable progress in pursuing peace across Plateau State.”
The paramount ruler of the Irigwe people, Ronku Aka, expressed appreciation for the governor’s visit, noting that it brought a sense of solidarity to a community in mourning. “It has not been easy for us within the past three days. We are very grateful to you, the Governor of Plateau State. This killing happened while our people were asleep, but we are happy you came in a very good time to condole us,” he said.
The traditional ruler also raised questions about the failure of technological tools meant to safeguard the area. A surveillance tower equipped with drones was supposed to monitor threats and raise alerts, but it seemingly failed to do so. He urged a review of its operation. “If the killings continue, there might be no one left in the Irigwe nation within the next three years,” he warned.
In response to the attacks, Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, assured Plateau citizens that swift action would be taken. During a visit to the governor at the Rayfield Government House, he said, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms these acts of violence. We recognise the severity of the incident and the negative impact on the local farming communities in Plateau State.”
The police boss noted that more officers and resources had been deployed to Plateau and that security agencies were working together to identify the attackers. “We are working tirelessly with other security agencies and the intelligence community. We are intensifying our intelligence gathering efforts to identify the masterminds of this dastardly act and bring them to justice.”
