Death Toll from Plateau’s Zike Community Attack Rises to 51, Homes Burned Down
The number of casualties from Monday’s brutal assault on Zike community in Kimakpa, Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State, has climbed to 51. Numerous houses were also set ablaze during the attack.
According to community leader Wakili Tongwe, the assailants stormed the village in the early hours of Monday, firing indiscriminately at residents who were fleeing in panic after the first gunshots rang out.
Speaking to Channels Television by phone, Tongwe explained that he and a group of vigilantes, along with some security personnel, were patrolling a nearby village when the gunmen launched the attack on Zike.
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Despite efforts by security forces to confront and repel the attackers, the carnage had already occurred—36 people were confirmed dead at the scene, while four more later succumbed to injuries.
Several others suffered gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment in nearby hospitals.
As of the time of reporting, security authorities had not issued a formal response to the incident, which comes just under two weeks after 52 people were killed in multiple communities within Bokkos LGA in the same state.
READ ALSO: Death Toll In Plateau Attack Rises To 52
A Region Plagued by Violence
Plateau State has long been plagued by violent attacks, with entire communities regularly targeted and displaced. During the 2023 Christmas holidays, around 200 people were massacred in attacks on predominantly Christian villages. In May 2024, another 40 people were killed in Wase, where attackers also razed homes.
While clashes between farmers and herders over land and resources are often cited as the primary cause, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang believes there is a deeper, more sinister agenda behind the violence.
“In all honesty, I see no explanation other than genocide sponsored by terrorists,” Mutfwang stated during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. “The critical question is: who is behind these orchestrated acts of terrorism? Security agencies must uncover the masterminds.”
The governor also revealed that armed groups have seized control of dozens of communities across the state.
“As we speak, no fewer than 64 communities across Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom LGAs have been taken over by bandits,” he said. “They’ve renamed these places and are living comfortably on land forcibly taken from the original inhabitants.”
Federal Government Promises Crackdown
In response to the escalating violence, the Federal Government has vowed to take decisive action. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the immediate deployment of specialized police tactical units to affected areas in Plateau State as part of efforts to restore security.
