Jos, Plateau State – A vicious attack on Zike and Kimakpa communities in Kwall District of Irigwe Chiefdom, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State has left at least 47 people dead and numerous others wounded. The tragic incident, which took place on Sunday night, has plunged the affected communities into mourning and despair as survivors grapple with the trauma of the assault.
Danjuma Dickson Auta, the Secretary General of the Irigwe Development Association (IDA), revealed that the death toll currently stands at 47, with the count still ongoing. He described the attack as a meticulously planned and coordinated assault on the community, signaling a disturbing level of violence that has shaken the region.
Despite the gravity of the situation, both the Plateau State Police Command and the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have not yet issued any official statements regarding the massacre. This silence from authorities has sparked concerns about the efficacy of security measures and the resolve of the government to safeguard vulnerable populations in the area.
This recent onslaught adds to a string of violent incidents in Plateau State, following closely on the heels of the massacre in Bokkos Local Government Area just two weeks earlier, where over 50 individuals lost their lives in a similar wave of brutality. The recurrent nature of these deadly attacks has prompted community leaders to demand urgent and resolute action from the government and security agencies to stem the bloodshed.
Fearing a continuous escalation of violence that could destabilize the fragile peace in the state, community leaders stress the imperative of proactive intervention to break the cycle of bloodshed. The lack of concrete measures to address the root causes of these attacks has fueled apprehension among residents, who are looking to authorities for reassurance and protection in these trying times.