At least 49 people have been reportedly killed in fresh attacks on Zike and Kimakpa villages in the Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State, according to local sources.
The attacks, which took place under the Iregwe Chieftaincy, also left several residents injured. Many of the wounded are receiving treatment at Bingham University Teaching Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital.
The latest bloodshed follows a series of isolated killings recently reported in other communities within the Bassa LGA.
Confirming the incident, spokesperson for the Irigwe Development Association, Samuel Jugo, said the assault began late Sunday night.
“According to witnesses, sporadic gunshots were heard from multiple locations and by Monday morning, 49 corpses had been recovered. This is aside from the number of persons injured which has not been ascertained yet,” he stated.
While security authorities have yet to issue an official statement, a source within Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) told revealed that four people were confirmed dead and four others hospitalised as of Monday morning.
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“The community was attacked yesterday (Sunday) night. Initially, three people were killed and five injured and were rushed to the hospital. But while taking the injured ones to the hospital, one other died,” the source told Daily Trust.
The military also confirmed that troops had taken control of the area.
Meanwhile, the Plateau State Government has condemned the attack in strong terms, describing it as “unprovoked.”
Speaking on behalf of the state government, Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon Joyce Ramnap, said that the repeated attacks posed a serious danger to the people.
“The attack is one too many and these series of attacks pose an existential threat to the lives and livelihoods of the peace-loving people of the state,” she 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 added.
Ramnap said the attacks appeared to be a deliberate attempt to destabilise the fragile peace in the state. She urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that the government was working closely with security agencies to contain the situation.