Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has apologized to residents of Bassa Local Government Area after a deadly attack in the Zikke community of Kwall district left more than 50 people dead. The attack happened in the early hours of Monday and has added to growing concerns over insecurity in the region.
During a visit to the affected area, Governor Mutfwang expressed deep regret and sorrow, acknowledging the state’s failure to protect its people. He said, “I have been crying since yesterday because I had trusted God that all the arrangements were put in place, that this will not happen again. But like all human arrangements, sometimes they fail. I want to admit that on Sunday night into Monday morning, we failed you. Please, forgive me.”
He called on community members to stay alert and support security agencies by sharing useful information. The governor stressed that ensuring peace and safety is a shared responsibility and encouraged better intelligence gathering and quicker response to threats.
The Zikke incident comes just two weeks after a similar attack in Bokkos Local Government Area, where many others also lost their lives. These back-to-back tragedies have reignited fears of renewed violence in the state, which has long suffered from ethnic and communal tensions.
The Paramount Ruler of Irigwe land, Ronku Aka, urged the government to provide more support and basic infrastructure for those displaced by violence. Governor Mutfwang and his team met with victims and their families, many of whom had already buried their loved ones and are demanding justice.
In a media interview, the governor described the attacks as genocidal and claimed that organized groups are behind them, aiming to take over land by force. He stated that more than 64 communities have been occupied and renamed by these armed groups.
President Bola Tinubu has condemned the killings and instructed security forces to find and prosecute the perpetrators. In response, the Inspector General of Police has deployed tactical units to help secure the affected areas.
