President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern directive to Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, urging him to summon the political will necessary to resolve the persistent violence in the state and establish lasting peace.
This order came in the wake of a horrific attack on Sunday night that left at least 52 people dead, including an entire family of eight, in Zike hamlet, Kimakpa community, Kwall district of Irigwe Chiefdom in Bassa Local Government Area.
President Tinubu, in a statement released by his spokesman Bayo Onanuga, condemned the attacks and extended his sympathies to the government and people of Plateau State.
The President emphasized the need for unity and harmony across religious and ethnic lines, calling on community, spiritual, and political leaders to work together to end the cycle of violence and retaliatory attacks that have plagued the region for decades.
According to the statement, the President said the ongoing violence, rooted in ethnic and religious misunderstandings, must come to an end.
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Death Toll Rises to 51 in Renewed Plateau Massacre as Irigwe People Cry Out for Justice
He disclosed that he has instructed security agencies to thoroughly investigate the attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.
He also called on Governor Mutfwang to tackle the root causes of the conflict, which he noted have lingered for over two decades.
Tinubu assured that the Federal Government would support the Plateau State Government in promoting dialogue, social cohesion, and accountability as part of efforts to achieve a lasting solution.
The President's directive came as security and government officials confirmed the killing of dozens in the latest attack. Brig. Gen. Gakji Shipi, Acting Coordinator of Operation Rainbow and Special Adviser on Internal Security to Governor Mutfwang, confirmed the killings but said the exact death toll was yet to be ascertained. He described the incident as a major setback to ongoing peace efforts in the state.
Sam Jugo, National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Development Association (IDA), also confirmed the massacre, stating that 49 bodies were recovered initially, while more casualties were still being identified.
He said the attack occurred around midnight while residents were asleep and was carried out by armed men suspected to be Fulanis. According to him, security operatives had been alerted ahead of the attack, yet the carnage still occurred, raising concerns over the efficacy of security measures in the area.
He criticized the inaction surrounding the use of the Drone Station in Kwall, which could have provided reconnaissance support.
Eli Ankala, a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly representing Rukuba/Irigwe constituency, decried the continuous government inaction, warning that if retribution begins, the situation may spiral out of control.
Similarly, Ezekiel Bini, Chairman of the Coalition of Plateau Youth Ethnic Nationalities, lamented the failure of previous peace agreements, which he said have not been honored by the other party. He described the attack as a tragic and deliberate attempt to destabilize the state.
Joyce Ramnap, Commissioner for Information and Communication in Plateau State, condemned the attack, describing it as unprovoked and an existential threat to the peace-loving people of the state.
She noted that this incident occurred just weeks after another attack in Bokkos Local Government Area, calling it a deliberate attempt to derail the fragile peace in the state.
In a separate development, troops of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Operation SAFE HAVEN rescued 16 kidnapped passengers along the Jos-Mangu road.
According to Major Samson Zhakom, Media Officer for Operation SAFE HAVEN, the rescue operation was launched after troops discovered an abandoned vehicle at Mararaban Kantoma.
The troops engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle, forcing them to flee and abandon the victims, including six children. First aid was administered to the injured before they were escorted to safety.
Meanwhile, Christian leaders in Plateau State are planning a protest in response to the unending killings. Dr. Gideon ParaMallam, President of the Gideon and Funmi ParaMallam Peace Foundation and member of the protest planning committee, confirmed the event, which is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 2025.
Dubbed the “2nd Peace Walk Against Continuous Killings,” the protest is organized by the Church Denominational Leaders and the Plateau State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Protesters are expected to gather at the PRTV Roundabout Junction in Jos and march to the New Government House in Little Rayfield, wearing black, red, and white outfits to symbolize mourning, the demand to end killings, and peaceful resistance to impunity.
Amnesty International also reacted to the massacre. Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, described the attack as a result of gross security lapses.
He stated that the murder of 52 people, including children and the elderly, showed a failure of security agencies to prevent predictable violence.
He called for a thorough investigation and an end to routine statements without action, insisting on visible protection for all citizens and accountability for those responsible.
The mass burial for the victims has already been conducted as survivors from the attack seek refuge in neighboring communities, while tension remains high across the affected areas.