In yet another chilling reminder of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis, President Bola Tinubu has condemned the latest deadly attack in Plateau State, which left over 50 people dead and several homes reduced to ashes.
The massacre, which occurred in the early hours of Monday in Zike community, Kimakpa, Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area, is just the latest in a long string of bloodshed that has plagued Plateau for decades. Residents say the attackers stormed the village while many were still asleep, opening fire without mercy as families fled into the darkness.
“This violence must stop. Enough is enough,” President Tinubu declared in a strongly worded statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
But for many Nigerians, especially those living in Plateau, these words sound all too familiar. Over 20 years of recurring attacks, hundreds of lives lost, and yet the same cycle continues—violence erupts, government condemns, and then silence until the next tragedy.
Tinubu expressed “deep sorrow” and extended his sympathies to Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the people of Plateau. However, he didn’t shy away from laying some blame at the feet of the state’s political leadership, urging Governor Mutfwang to rise to the occasion and address the root causes of the crisis.
“These problems have been with us for more than two decades,” Tinubu said. “We can no longer ignore the underlying issues. It is time to tackle them fairly and find a lasting solution.”
Critics argue that the Plateau State government has for too long allowed ethnic and religious tensions to simmer beneath the surface, failing to take bold action or initiate meaningful dialogue between communities. What’s worse, residents continue to lose faith in the government’s ability—or willingness—to protect them.
According to community leader Wakili Tongwe, the attack in Kwall was swift and brutal. “They came before dawn and just started shooting. People ran for their lives. It was chaos,” he said.
President Tinubu has ordered security agencies to investigate the attack thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice. But such promises have often led nowhere in the past, with most attackers rarely facing consequences.
“This is not just about arresting criminals,” Tinubu stated. “It’s about healing divisions, confronting the political negligence, and putting an end to the retaliation mindset that’s tearing Plateau apart.”
While the federal government has pledged to support the Plateau State administration in fostering peace and ensuring accountability, many wonder: how many more lives must be lost before words turn into real action?
Until then, the people of Plateau remain trapped in a vicious cycle of bloodshed and broken promises.
Reference
“Enough is Enough”: Tinubu Laments Plateau Massacre as Insecurity Spirals Out of Control