by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
As government is making efforts to find solution to end the renewed attacks in some communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, another attack has taken place in Zike, Kimakpa community in Kwall District of Irigwe Chiefdom, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, where 51 persons have been confirmed killed, with so many injured.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday night, left the affected communities in grief and devastation, as survivors recount the horror.
The Secretary-General of the Irigwe Development Association (IDA), Dajuma Auta, who confirmed the attack in a telephone interview with journalists, stated that, “Earlier, it was 47 bodies that were so far recovered, and we are still counting.”
He said, “Right now, the number has risen to 51 bodies confirmed to be killed. The scale of the violence suggests a well-planned and coordinated assault on the community.”
Meanwhile the National body of Berom Youths Moulder-Association, under the leadership of Barr Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, condemned the attacks in its entirety.
“The continuous massacre of Plateau residents and communities recently in Hurti of Bokkos and Irigwe Kimakpa and last night in Zike and Kakpa villages of Kwall District, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State by armed men suspected to be Fulani militants is condemnable.”
A statement was signed and issued to our correspondent by Bature Iliya Adazaram, Secretary-General, Berom Youths Moulder-Association and for Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, President, Berom Youths Moulder-Association.
“The BYM is saddened by the systemic premeditated killings of unsuspecting residents of Bokkos and Bassa, especially another round of bloodbath witnessed last night, 12th April, 2025, that claims no fewer than 50 innocent villagers, including women and children, in Bassa Local Government Area without any just cause known to the armless populace.
It stated that, according to information available to them, the armed Fulani militants, who veraciously attacked Kimakpa and Zike villages of Kwall in Iriggwe Chiefdom last night, at about 8:00pm of Sunday, was carried out while the State is yet to recover from the genocide meted out on villages of Hurti Community, of Bokkos Local Government Area on the 2nd April, 2025, which is a unarguably an act of terrorism that confirm a virally-circulated video credited to the terror actors, who vowed to “make security situation unbearable” in the State.
“It’s our candid opinion that, since precious lives of people have continued to massively been consumed by the dastardly act of terrorism and banditry being brandished by foot-soldiers of human enemies that have intractable virulent intent to continue unleashing mayhem on Nigerians, the BYM, therefore, calls on the Federal Government under the amiable leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to, in conjunction with Plateau State Government and other States, set in motion the necessary measures towards not only the DECLARATION OF FULANI MILITANTS AS TERRORISTS group, but also come up with a legislation that would allow Nigerians acquire arms for exercise of self-defense under the monitoring of the Nigerian Police Force; otherwise, the sanctity of human life would remain a mirage to our sensibility.
“This would largely curtail degeneration of inhumanity being perpetrated by the seeds of luckier, called, “killer,” since people have, and must enjoy their constitutional rights to life, dignity of human person, ownership of both movable and immovable property anywhere in the country, freedom of movement and religion, amongst others, as the enemies of the State have vowed not to allow citizens and residents across the country to enjoy such.”
They also implored both the State and Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, redouble their respective efforts severally or jointly, eradicate this disturbing happenings through holistic approach and investigation without compromise to ascertain the individuals, including ‘shadow-actors’ in the gruesome murder of Nigerians, particularly the Bokkos and Irigwe victims.
The statement also calls for dislodgement of occupants of grabbed lands on the Plateau, as such persons are undeniably responsible for the hiring of the bandits and other terrorist elements into Plateau and beyond.
While urging the security agents saddled with the responsibility of manning the security situation on the Plateau, particularly Operation Safe Haven-OPSH, not to yield to whatever pressure for the release of suspected sponsors and killers of Plateau people as “ALL EYES AND EARS” ARE KEENLY following up to see whether justice would once be allowed to prevail, or the whims and caprice of some terror sponsors that are afraid their names could be fingered in the investigation on the ongoing Fulani militants jihad being waged.
“We equally call for a crackdown on the perpetrators of the ongoing genocides to be tracked, apprehended and subjected to the extant laws, laid down rules and regulations governing human live; for we believe in the leadership of the security agencies as well as Federal, State and at Local Government currently have in the country.”
They also used the medium to sensitize their villages and communities to know that the usual attackers have risen-up again and, therefore, keep away evening and early hours as well as isolated movements and vigilante since the Fulani militants have mastered the acts of war, terrorism and banditry, as security Intel has it that more bandits have been brought into Rankum (Mahanga) and Dorowa Babuje areas to commence another round of hostilities in nearby villages and communities as well as the State at large.