President Bola Tinubu has condemned the renewed violence in Plateau State, where gunmen killed at least 51 people in Bassa Local Government Area on Monday. He has ordered a security crackdown and urged the state government to resolve the root causes of the persistent communal crisis.
The latest attack, which occurred in the early hours of Monday in Zikke and Kimakpa communities, also left dozens injured and homes destroyed. The massacre comes barely two weeks after a similar incident in another part of the state left over 50 people dead.
Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed deep sorrow and charged Governor Caleb Mutfwang to take decisive action to halt the cycle of bloodshed. “Enough is enough,” the President said.
He called for a comprehensive approach that goes beyond military action, urging the state leadership to tackle the long-standing ethnic and religious tensions fueling the violence. “These problems have been with us for more than two decades. We can no longer ignore the underlying issues,” Tinubu stated.
The President revealed that he had previously discussed peace strategies with Governor Mutfwang and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting Plateau in promoting dialogue and social cohesion.
Residents said the attackers stormed the villages in the dead of night, shooting indiscriminately and burning homes. Youth leader Joseph Chudu confirmed the assault, appealing for urgent medical assistance and blood donations for the wounded at Jos University Teaching Hospital.
Amnesty International Nigeria criticized the security lapses that allowed the attack, calling for an investigation. In response, Tinubu instructed security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The Berom Youth Moulders Association blamed Fulani militants for the recurring violence and called on the Federal Government to designate them as a terrorist group. The association also urged lawmakers to legalize self-defense through firearm ownership.
Meanwhile, soldiers from the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Operation Safe Haven rescued 16 kidnapped passengers, including six children, along the Jos-Mangu road. The troops engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle and overpowered them, successfully freeing the victims.
Plateau State, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has long been plagued by ethno-religious clashes, often portrayed as conflict between Muslim herders and Christian farmers. Experts, however, point to climate change and diminishing grazing lands as major contributing factors.
President Tinubu reiterated the need for unity among Nigeria’s diverse communities, appealing to religious and political leaders to work together to end the violence.
