Over 50 Killed in Overnight Attack on Irigwe Community in Bassa LGA, Plateau State

At least 51 people have been confirmed dead following a brutal night-time assault on the Zikke hamlet in Kimakpa community, Kwall District of Irigwe Chiefdom, Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State. The attack occurred late on Sunday, plunging the region into another round of violence, destruction, and grief.Local sources report that the assailants struck under the cover of darkness, setting homes ablaze and indiscriminately killing residents. Survivors recount that the attackers arrived in large numbers and launched an unprovoked assault that lasted for several hours. Many victims were reportedly caught off guard as they slept, leaving little chance for escape or resistance.The community, predominantly of the Irigwe ethnic group, has been the target of repeated attacks in recent years. Sunday night’s incident is one of the deadliest recorded in the area in recent times. Residents say the gunmen moved swiftly through the village, torching homes and killing men, women, and children alike. Some victims were burned inside their houses, while others were shot or hacked to death as they tried to flee.Local authorities confirmed the casualty figure on Monday morning, with community leaders and humanitarian responders already on the ground. As of press time, 51 bodies had been recovered, though the death toll could rise as search operations continue. Many residents remain unaccounted for, and several injured individuals have been taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment.The aftermath of the attack has left the Kimakpa community in ruins. Dozens of homes were razed to the ground, personal belongings destroyed, and farmlands ravaged. Survivors are now displaced, with many seeking shelter in nearby villages and temporary camps.The Irigwe Development Association (IDA), speaking through its president, condemned the attack and described it as a massacre. The IDA accused security agencies of failing to protect the community despite repeated alerts about looming threats. They expressed concern over what they termed a pattern of coordinated and targeted attacks aimed at displacing the Irigwe people from their ancestral land.Local youth groups and civil society organizations have also reacted, calling on both the Plateau State Government and the Federal Government to intervene urgently. They criticized the slow response of security forces and demanded justice for the victims. Some have warned that continued inaction could fuel reprisals and escalate tensions across the state.As of Monday, security forces had been deployed to the area to prevent further violence. However, the arrival of troops came after the assailants had already fled. Residents allege that the attackers operated for hours without any challenge, raising questions about the effectiveness of the security architecture in the region.Plateau State has long been a flashpoint for ethno-religious and communal violence, often linked to land disputes, farmer-herder clashes, and longstanding grievances between different ethnic groups. The Irigwe community, in particular, has faced multiple attacks in the past few years, with hundreds killed and thousands displaced.Humanitarian agencies working in the area have raised alarms over the growing number of internally displaced persons and the worsening security situation. They have called for urgent assistance to help those affected, including food supplies, medical support, and temporary shelter.So far, there has been no official statement from the Plateau State Government as of Monday afternoon. However, political and religious leaders in the region have begun issuing statements condemning the killings and calling for peace. Some have urged communities to remain calm and avoid retaliatory actions, warning that such moves could further destabilize the area.Meanwhile, the Federal Government is expected to issue a formal response, with growing pressure on security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. As the nation awaits action, the people of Zikke hamlet and the wider Irigwe Chiefdom continue to count their losses and bury their dead in the wake of another devastating assault.