Plateau State has been plunged into sorrow once again as four individuals lost their lives in renewed violence perpetrated by suspected herdsmen in the Miango district of Bassa Local Government Area.
According to Davidson Malison, the national publicity secretary of the Irigwe Development Association, the attacks targeted the Nkienzha community in the Rigwe Chiefdom early on Monday, resulting in three fatalities and leaving another person severely injured with machete wounds. The injured victim is currently undergoing medical treatment.
Tragically, another life was claimed in a related attack on Teegbe village on Saturday night, further exacerbating the anguish within the community.
In a separate incident on Friday, a vehicle ambush led to the burning of a car and injuries to one individual, intensifying the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among locals.
The resurgence of violence has drawn strong condemnation from the leadership of the Rigwe nation, including the traditional council and development association, who described the attacks as “callous” and “barbaric”.
Paramount ruler of Rigwe Chiefdom, Reverend Ronku Aka, and President of the Irigwe Development Association, Robert Ashi, have urgently appealed to security agencies for swift action, demanding the apprehension and prosecution of those responsible for these heinous crimes.
This recent wave of violence is not an isolated incident, as Plateau State has witnessed a significant increase in such attacks. In a horrifying incident on Christmas Eve, over 200 individuals were killed in attacks on the Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas, with homes and farmlands destroyed.
The violence continued into the new year, with more than 30 people killed and numerous houses torched in Kwahaslalek village, Mangu Local Government Area, in January.
In response to the January attacks, Governor Caleb Mutfwang imposed a curfew in the affected Local Government Area, which was subsequently lifted. However, with the recurrence of violence, concerns about the security situation in Plateau State remain high, with residents fearing for their safety and livelihoods.
