Now Reading: Plateau Killings: Muftwang Apologises to Zikke Community After 51 Gunned Down
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Plateau Killings: Muftwang Apologises to Zikke Community After 51 Gunned Down
Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang issued a heartfelt apology to the residents of Zikke community in Bassa Local Government Area, admitting, “We’ve failed you,” following a brutal attack that claimed 51 lives on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Gunmen stormed Zikke and neighboring Kakpa villages in the Kimakpa area of Kwall district around midnight, unleashing a barrage of gunfire that left scores injured and properties razed, plunging the community into mourning. The assault, described by local leaders as a coordinated massacre, marks the latest in a wave of violence gripping Plateau State, with over 100 deaths reported in Bassa and Bokkos LGAs in the past two weeks alone.
The Irigwe Youth Movement, representing the affected community, confirmed the death toll, noting that 49 bodies were recovered by Monday morning, with two more found later in nearby bushes. “The attackers came at midnight, shooting indiscriminately,” said community leader Samuel Jugo. “Homes were burned, livestock stolen, and families shattered.”
Witnesses reported that the gunmen, suspected to be armed herdsmen, targeted sleeping residents, with children and the elderly among the victims. The state police reported 12 injuries, and security forces have been deployed to restore calm, though no arrests were confirmed at press time. Governor Muftwang, addressing survivors, vowed to enhance intelligence gathering and deploy rapid-response units, but his apology underscored the state’s struggle to curb escalating insecurity. “This is genocide,” he said, echoing earlier statements blaming “conflict merchants” for the bloodshed.
The attack follows a similar April 2 assault in Bokkos, where 52 people were killed across five communities, raising fears that Plateau is reverting to its violent past after years of relative peace. The state government has appealed for federal support, with Muftwang urging residents to remain vigilant. Relief efforts are underway, with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) directed to assist displaced families, estimated at over 500. The Zikke killings have sparked nationwide outrage, with calls for decisive action to halt the cycle of violence threatening Plateau’s fragile stability.
