BREAKING!!! Gunmen murder 45 people in fresh Plateau attack

By Mark Ogagan

About 45 people have been murdered and many others injured following a brutal attack by gunmen on Zike Kimakpa community in Kwall District of Irigwe Chiefdom, Bassa local government area (LGA) of Plateau state on Monday.

A Kwall community leader, Wakili Tongwe, confirmed the deadly attack.

He said the attackers invaded the village in the early hours of Monday, April 14, and shot sporadically at residents who were scampering for safety after hearing gunshots.

The community leader divulged that a team of vigilantes, including himself and some security personnel, were on patrol in another community when the attackers invaded the village and started shooting.

Local reports confirmed the sad development, stating that about 30 homes were razed down by the rampaging attackers.

Meanwhile, the Plateau state government has condemned in strong terms, the unprovoked attack by gunmen on Zike Kimakpa community.

Joyce Ramnap, the commissioner of information and communication in Plateau state, described the attack as one too many, adding that this series of attacks posed an existential threat to the lives and livelihoods of the peace-loving people of the state.

Ramnap said: “It is sad that in less than two weeks after our people were killed in Bokkos local government, this sad incident is reoccurring in another community in Bassa local government.”

She described the attack as another attempt to puncture the peace that has ‘gradually returned to the state’, maintaining that the attacks were provocative but called on the peaceful people of the state particularly in the affected communities, to remain calm and equally vigilant.

The commissioner emphasised that the Governor, Caleb Mutfwang-led administration is determined to deal decisively with individuals or groups found culpable in attacking innocent persons in the state.

Furthermore, she advised against reprisals by the people of the state while urging the security operatives to go after the perpetrators of these dastardly attacks.

Certain areas in Plateau state have a decades-long history of violence between ethnic groups competing for land. About two weeks ago in some communities in the state, dozens of people were killed in a similar round of violence.