The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has openly apologised to the people of Bassa Local Government Area following a deadly attack that claimed the lives of over 50 residents in the Zikke community. The governor, visibly emotional during his visit to the area, admitted that the government and security agencies failed to prevent the massacre despite recent efforts to improve security in the troubled region.
Governor Mutfwang gave the heartfelt apology on Tuesday during a condolence visit to the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Irigwe land, Ronku Aka, the Brangwe of Irigwe, in Miango. His apology came less than 48 hours after the brutal attack, which left dozens dead, several houses burnt, and hundreds of residents displaced.
“I will tell you the truth: 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. We have made investments in security,” the governor said in an emotionally charged speech.
“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.”
The attack, which took place in the early hours of Monday, is one of the deadliest in recent times and comes barely two weeks after another assault in Bokkos Local Government Area left scores of people dead and displaced many others.
According to community members, gunmen stormed Zikke in the middle of the night, opening fire on sleeping residents and setting houses ablaze. Many victims were buried in mass graves as survivors demanded urgent government intervention.
Governor Mutfwang, accompanied by top security chiefs and members of the Plateau State Executive Council, toured the affected areas and visited grieving families. During the visit, he encouraged the people not to lose hope and urged them to continue supporting the security agencies with credible information that could help prevent further attacks.
“You must remain strong and committed to protecting your communities. But also work with the authorities by exposing the activities and movements of these criminals. We must work together,” he urged.
The Brangwe of Irigwe, His Royal Highness Ronku Aka, thanked the governor for the visit but called on the government to do more than offer condolences. He urged immediate action to improve the security situation and provide basic social amenities to support the victims.
“Our people are tired of tears and burials. We need roads, schools, and hospitals, not just during times of crisis. These things will give our people hope,” the monarch said.
Plateau State has long been the epicentre of ethno-religious and communal violence in Nigeria’s North-Central region. Clashes between farmers and herders, often rooted in land disputes and competition for resources, have become more frequent and deadly in recent years.
However, observers say the recent attacks appear to be more coordinated and brutal, raising fears of a deeper crisis. Governor Mutfwang himself suggested that the violence has taken a genocidal dimension, going beyond local grievances.
“Over 64 communities have already been taken over by gunmen,” he revealed, adding that the attacks were not random, but systematic and sponsored. “What we are seeing is no longer just a conflict over land — it is a campaign of terror.”
His comments echo those of other leaders in the region who have long warned that the violence in Plateau is being fueled by external actors with sinister motives, including the aim of displacing indigenous communities and seizing their ancestral lands.
Following the recent killings, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the attacks and ordered security agencies to identify and bring the masterminds to justice. He described the violence as unacceptable and vowed that the perpetrators would face the full weight of the law.
Yet, many residents feel that the federal government has not done enough to stop the killings. They say security response is often slow or absent when attacks happen, and justice is rarely served, allowing attackers to return and strike again.
For the people of Zikke and the larger Bassa community, the governor’s apology is welcome but not enough. What they want now is protection, justice, and the rebuilding of their lives.
Several residents who spoke with journalists called for the deployment of more security personnel to vulnerable communities, the creation of local vigilante groups with government backing, and the immediate reconstruction of destroyed homes and infrastructure.
“We are not asking for too much. We just want to live in peace. Let the government protect us the way it protects other citizens,” said a local youth leader.
Human rights groups and civil society organisations have also raised alarm over the rising death toll in Plateau and other parts of the Middle Belt. They are urging the federal and state governments to take decisive action, including prosecuting those behind the violence, compensating victims, and addressing the root causes of the crisis.
Governor Mutfwang, who came into office with promises to restore peace in Plateau, now faces the tough challenge of delivering on that promise. His visit to Zikke may be seen as a sign of compassion and accountability, but many agree that what matters most now is action.
“We appreciate that the governor came and spoke the truth. But this must be the last time we bury our people like this. Something has to change,” said a community elder.
As security agencies intensify investigations and patrols, all eyes are on the Plateau State Government and the Presidency to see how they will handle the worsening crisis. For now, the people of Bassa are left to mourn — and to hope that they will not be forgotten again.
