51 persons have been confirmed dead in a fresh assault on Zike community, Kimakpa, in the Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State. Community leader Wakili Tongwe confirmed that the attackers stormed the village in the early hours of Monday, opening fire on residents who were fleeing after hearing gunshots.
Tongwe explained that he and a team of vigilantes were on patrol with security personnel in a neighbouring community when the gunmen struck. Although the security team later engaged the assailants and repelled them, thirty-six people were found dead at the scene, with more succumbing to injuries shortly after. Several others who sustained gunshot wounds are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Also Read: Gunmen Kill 10 People in Fresh Attacks on Plateau Communities
The attack comes less than two weeks after over fifty people were killed in coordinated assaults on communities in Bokkos Local Government Area. The recent violence adds to the long history of deadly conflicts in Plateau, often attributed to disputes between farming and herding communities. Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the latest incident.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has averred that the situation in the state goes beyond farmer-herder clashes, suggesting deeper issues at play. In response to the recurring violence, the Federal Government has pledged to root out the perpetrators, with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordering the immediate and comprehensive deployment of police tactical units to the affected areas.
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