“A Night of Terror”: 49 Killed in Midnight Attack on Zike Hamlet, Plateau State

Irigwe Nation Calls for Urgent Intervention as Grief Sweeps Through Bassa LGA

Plateau State, Nigeria — April 14, 2025

In the quiet darkness of Sunday night, as families in Zike hamlet of the Kimakpa community in Kwall District, Irigwe Chiefdom lay asleep, terror struck without warning.
By dawn, 49 innocent lives had been lost, and an entire community left shattered.

The Irigwe Development Association (IDA) confirmed the tragedy in a sorrowful statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Sam Jugo, who said the community was jolted awake by sporadic gunshots around midnight on April 13th, sparking chaos and fear.

“We woke up to another massacre,” Jugo lamented. “By morning, 49 corpses had been recovered from the scene of horror. Dozens more remain injured, and we are still counting.”

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers—allegedly suspected herdsmen—descended upon the sleeping village from multiple directions. The few survivors say warnings of an impending attack had circulated days earlier, and security operatives were reportedly informed. Despite this, the violence unfolded unchecked.

The IDA expressed deep frustration at what it called a repeated betrayal of a peaceful people, noting that over 75 Irigwe natives have been killed since December 2024 alone, including nine just last week.

“What is the role of the Drone Station in Kwall if not for surveillance in times like these?” Jugo questioned, voicing the anguish and disappointment of a wounded community. “We cannot continue to bury our people under silence and inaction.”

A Government’s Cry for Justice

The Plateau State Government, through Commissioner for Information and Communication Joyce Ramnap, has strongly condemned the attack, calling it “one too many.”

“This is an attempt to puncture the peace we’ve been working hard to restore,” Ramnap said. “Just weeks ago, we buried victims in Bokkos. Now Bassa is bleeding. The Mutfwang administration will leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice.”

She urged the people of Plateau to remain calm and vigilant, warning against reprisals and assuring that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

A Glimmer of Hope Amid Tragedy: 16 Rescued from Kidnappers

In a related but hopeful development, troops of 3 Division Nigerian Army and Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) rescued 16 kidnapped passengers along the Jos–Mangu road on the same night.
Among the rescued were six children, pulled from the clutches of armed kidnappers following a daring search-and-rescue operation in the Mararaban Kantoma area of Mangu LGA.

Major Samson Zhakom, OPSH Media Officer, confirmed the successful operation and said troops administered first aid to victims with minor injuries before ensuring their safe passage to Jos Metropolis.

“Our troops were fired upon by the kidnappers but overpowered them with superior firepower,” he said. “We’re currently tracking the fleeing criminals, who are suspected to have sustained gunshot wounds.”

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A Plea to the Nation

The Irigwe people, still reeling from yet another unprovoked massacre, are calling on the Federal Government, humanitarian bodies, and the international community to intervene before the situation escalates into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.

“We are tired of counting bodies. We ask for protection. We ask for peace,” the IDA statement concluded. “Let this be the last time our soil is soaked in innocent blood.”