Not less than 40 people have lost their lives in a midnight attack on the Zike community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday.
According to report, a community leader Wakili Tongwe, told newsmen that the gunmen entered the village at the early hours of Monday and started shooting randomly.
Wakili said his team of vigilantes and some security officers were on duty in another community when the attack happened.
By the time his team got there, the gunmen already killed 36 people while four others who suffered serious injuries later died. Others who sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment at the Jos university teaching hospital.
Confirming the development, the Plateau state commissioner for information and communication, Joyce Ramnap described the attack as an effort to disrupt the peace that is gradually returning to the state. She encourage people to remain peaceful as the government and security officers are working on restoring peace in the community.
She said, “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.”
“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.”
However, it is worth noting that despite the promise made by the federal government to put an end to the incessant killings and unrest in the state, the attacks has remained persistent.
This attack occurred barely two weeks after gunmen killed not less than 52 people in the same local government area.