Gunmen Kill 51 In Plateau Village, Amnesty Demands Urgent Action From Nigerian Government

Jost, Plateau State– Global human rights group Amnesty International has condemned the gruesome killing of at least 51 people in Zikke village, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, following a brutal overnight raid by unknown gunmen that left entire communities razed, homes looted, and survivors in despair.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the attackers stormed Zikke late in the night, indiscriminately shooting and setting homes ablaze.

However, most of the victims were unable to flee—many were children, the elderly, and people with disabilities—slaughtered in cold blood and left in what one local resident described as “pools of blood.”

Amnesty International made this known in a statement on Monday, condemned the incessant killings.

This latest atrocity comes just two weeks after another deadly incident in Plateau State in which 52 lives were lost under similar circumstances.

Amnesty said the recurrence of such attacks signals “inexcusable security lapses” and a failure of leadership.

“The Nigerian authorities have left these communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen, the rights group added.

“Their failure to tame the tide of this violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action, many more lives may be lost.”

The group urged the government to immediately investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice, while calling for a more strategic and community-based security response in the region.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration has touted new security strategies to curb rising insecurity nationwide.

However, Amnesty questioned the effectiveness of those measures, especially in the light of recent events.

“While President Tinubu claims his government is implementing new security measures, the recent attacks in Plateau show that whatever is being done is clearly not working,” the statement said.

Between December 2023 and February 2024 alone, Plateau State has witnessed an alarming surge in violence. Amnesty’s data reveals that 1,336 people were killed during this period, including 533 women, 263 children, and 540 men.

In addition, 29,554 people have been displaced, with women and children making up the majority—13,093 children and 16,461 women.

Amnesty International reiterated its call for a comprehensive investigation into the attacks, effective prosecution of the perpetrators, and robust support for displaced and traumatized survivors.