A father and his two sons tragically lost their lives on Friday when bandits launched an attack on Zogu village, located in Miango, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. The deadly assault marks yet another instance of rising violence in the region, following a brutal attack just days earlier in Bokkos villages that left over 50 people dead.
The victims of this latest attack were identified as 56-year-old Weyi Gebeh and his two sons, 25-year-old Zhu Weyi and 16-year-old Henry Weyi. The family was killed in the early hours of Friday morning when the assailants invaded the community. This brings the death toll to nine people in the area in just one week alone, according to the Irigwe Development Association (IDA).
Sam Jugo, the National Publicity Secretary for IDA, expressed deep concern over the worsening situation. In a statement, Jugo condemned the violence and called on security agencies to take urgent and decisive action to end the killings. “This recent event brings to 9 deaths recorded this week alone. IDA expresses its utmost displeasure on the deteriorating situation in Irigwe land and calls on the security agencies to do whatever that’s required to halt this barbarism on our land and perpetrators apprehended to face justice,” Jugo said.
The community leader also noted the disturbing frequency with which criminal elements attack the region, suggesting that these acts might be motivated by something more sinister than mere retaliation. “The way criminal elements invade our motherland and kill with impunity seems to suggest a more sinister motive than mere reprisal alleged wrongs,” he added. IDA has called for immediate action by the Plateau State government and security forces to stop the relentless bloodshed in Irigwe land.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Middle Belt Ethnic Nationalities and a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have jointly called for an end to the ongoing violence in Plateau State. In separate briefings held at the NUJ Press Centre in Jos, representatives of these groups decried the continued attacks and voiced concerns over the apparent threat to the survival of indigenous communities in the region.
Prof. Abraham Dogo, a representative of the Middle Belt Ethnic Nationalities, condemned the killings, describing them as part of an alarming attempt to annihilate the region’s ethnic groups. He recalled a tragic attack on April 2nd, 2025, in Bokkos, where innocent farmers were brutally massacred by armed assailants. “These innocent and defenceless citizens were mercilessly killed by suspected armed and deadly herders/terrorists—agents of destruction who have no regard for human life, law, or peaceful coexistence,” Dogo stated.
He further emphasized the need for justice, protection, and peace, asserting, “We demand justice. We demand protection. We demand peace. We stand today in grief, but not in defeat. We will continue to raise our voices until the lives of every Nigerian, regardless of tribe or faith, are valued and protected.”
Rev. Chris Damcher, Chairman of the Plateau State Civil Society Organization Forum, also spoke at the press conference, pledging continued support for the communities affected by the violence. “We stand with the communities in Bokkos and pray that soon and very soon they will return to their communities with the setting in of the rains for the farming season. We pray for the reign of peace in our dear state as we declare that enough of the bloodshed and bloodletting in Plateau State,” Damcher said.
