A fresh wave of violence has struck Plateau State, Nigeria, as a brutal overnight assault on Sunday left 49 people dead and several homes razed in Zike, a remote hamlet in the Kimakpa community of Bassa Local Government Area.
The attack occurred in the dead of night, catching residents off guard while they slept. The sound of gunfire shattered the quiet, forcing families to flee in terror as chaos descended on the peaceful community. By morning, the full scale of the devastation had become clear—homes reduced to ashes, lives lost, and a community left reeling.
According to Sam Jugo, National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Development Association (IDA), the assault began around midnight on April 13, 2025.
“We woke up to yet another massacre in Zike,” Jugo said. “Witnesses reported hearing sporadic gunshots from multiple directions. By daybreak, 49 bodies had been recovered, with several others injured. The exact number of the wounded remains unconfirmed.”
Jugo alleged that the attackers were Fulani militants, citing residents who said prior warnings had been issued and security agencies alerted. Despite confirmation from the Sector 3 Commander that troops had been deployed to Kwall, the assault still occurred unabated.
He added that this latest tragedy follows the killing of nine others just last week, bringing the death toll in Irigwe communities to at least 75 since December 2024.
“This sustained assault on a peace-loving people is provocative and deeply troubling,” he said. “Residents are particularly alarmed that the drone station in Kwall, which could have provided surveillance, was not deployed despite intelligence of a possible attack.”
He called on both the Federal and Plateau State governments to act swiftly to prevent further escalation into a humanitarian crisis, urging Irigwe natives to remain calm and trust that justice will prevail.
In reaction, the Plateau State Government condemned the unprovoked attack in strong terms. Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, described it as “one too many,” warning that such incidents threaten the peace and stability of the entire state.
“It is distressing that less than two weeks after the Bokkos killings, we are once again mourning in Bassa,” Ramnap said. “This is a deliberate attempt to undermine the fragile peace we’ve been rebuilding. We urge all residents, especially in affected areas, to remain calm and vigilant.”
She reaffirmed the Mutfwang administration’s commitment to hold perpetrators accountable, urging security agencies to intensify efforts to bring those responsible to justice. She also warned against retaliatory attacks, emphasizing the need for lawful and measured responses.
Meanwhile, in a related development, troops from the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) successfully rescued 16 kidnapped passengers along the Jos–Mangu Road.
According to Major Samson Zhakom, OPSH Media Officer, the operation began after troops discovered an abandoned vehicle near Mararaban Kantoma in Mangu LGA at around 9 p.m. on the same night, April 13.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram Controls Three LGAs in Borno – Ndume Raises Alarm
Student Loan Scandal: Tertiary Institutions Accused of Shortchanging Students
“Troops initiated a search of the surrounding bush and encountered gunfire from the kidnappers,” he said. “With superior firepower, the soldiers overwhelmed the criminals, forcing them to flee and abandon their captives.”
Among the rescued were six children. First aid was administered to victims with minor injuries before troops escorted them safely to Jos Metropolis. A manhunt is currently underway for the fleeing kidnappers, some of whom are believed to be wounded.
