At least 51 villagers lost their lives early Monday in a brutal gunmen attack in Zikke and Kimakpa villages of Plateau state’s Bassa district, according to residents and Amnesty International Nigeria. The massacre comes just two weeks after a similar attack killed 52 people and displaced thousands in the region.
Villages Burned, Lives Lost
Eyewitnesses described horrifying scenes as the attackers, believed to be armed cattle herders, stormed the villages before dawn. Several homes were razed and looted, and mass burials were held hours later.
“There is outrage in the land at the moment,” said local resident Joseph Chudu Yonkpa. “A mass burial is currently underway.”
No Immediate Police Response
As of now, there has been no official comment from local police authorities. The silence has further enraged local communities, who are demanding swift justice and tighter security.
Calls for Accountability
Amnesty International condemned the attack, stating:
“The inexcusable security lapses that enabled this horrific attack, two weeks after the killing of 52 people, must be investigated.”
Local youth groups also voiced their anguish.
“No community deserves to go through such trauma, bloodshed, and destruction,” said Albert Garba Samuel from the Jere Nation Youths Development Association.
A Region in Turmoil
Plateau State, part of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has long been a flashpoint for ethno-religious conflict. While the violence is often framed as tensions between Muslim herders and Christian farmers, experts point to climate change, shrinking grazing lands, and agricultural encroachment as key underlying issues.
As the death toll rises and security concerns grow, residents are left grappling with loss, fear, and unanswered questions.
