At least 40 people have lost their lives in a renewed wave of violence after gunmen attacked Zike village in the Kimakpa area of Kwall district, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The assault occurred in the early hours of Monday, plunging the community into panic as armed men stormed the area and began firing indiscriminately at residents.
According to eyewitnesses, many villagers attempted to escape the sudden gunfire but were gunned down in the process.
Community leader Wakili Tongwe, who spoke with Channels Television, revealed that he was on patrol with security personnel in a nearby area when the incident began.
“Although we confronted and eventually repelled the attackers, the casualties were already significant,” Tongwe said.
“Thirty-six people died on the scene, while four more later succumbed to their injuries. Several others are being treated for gunshot wounds.”
This tragedy comes less than two weeks after a similar attack in Bokkos Local Government Area, where 52 lives were lost, further highlighting the worsening security situation in Plateau State.
In response, Plateau State’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, condemned the latest incident, describing it as “one too many” and a serious threat to the peace efforts in the region.
“It’s heartbreaking that shortly after the Bokkos killings, Bassa is now under siege. These acts are deliberate attempts to destabilize the fragile peace we’ve been working to restore,” Ramnap said.
She appealed to residents to stay calm and vigilant, assuring them that Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration is committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“The government will take decisive action against those behind these brutal attacks,” she stated, while also urging against retaliatory violence.
As of now, security agencies have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
