Monday’s deadly attack on Zike and Kimakpa communities in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State has left at least 51 persons dead.
The affected villages, located less than five kilometres from the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division Headquarters, were left vulnerable as gunmen struck around midnight.
The scale of the killings and the lack of immediate military response have triggered outrage and raised concerns over security coordination in the state.
The attack came just days after another deadly assault in Bokkos LGA, where 52 persons were killed. The pattern has unsettled residents and drawn attention to what they see as a disturbing trend of impunity.
During a visit by The PUNCH to the affected areas on Tuesday, villagers expressed shock that such brutality occurred so close to a military installation without swift intervention.
A resident of Kimakpa who requested anonymity said, “The attackers operated freely for hours. With the army base nearby, we expected help, but none came.”
Lancaster Akpa, a 49-year-old native of Kimakpa, lost nine relatives—two brothers and seven of their children. “I was in Jos when I got the call. By morning, I rushed to the village and saw the horror. Some wore army camouflage, others wore mufti, but we could identify them,” he said, visibly distraught.
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In Zike, Jerry Muwa narrated how his family narrowly escaped death. He said gunmen torched his son’s house, burning six children alive. “We buried only ashes. There was no flesh left. It was God’s mercy that saved the rest of us,” he said.
As residents mourn, calls for an investigation into the military’s response are growing. Efforts to reach Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, were unsuccessful as calls and texts were not returned.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, visited the communities on Tuesday to sympathise with the victims.
The paramount ruler of Irigwe Nation, Ronku Aka, thanked the governor for his timely visit, saying, “They want Plateau to fall, but Plateau will stand.”
Punch
