President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the recent massacre in Plateau State’s Bassa Local Government Area, where at least 51 people were killed and several homes razed in what is being described as one of the deadliest attacks in recent times, 9am News Reports.
Reacting through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, Tinubu condemned the brutal violence and extended condolences to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the state government, and the people of Plateau.
Tinubu, who described the crisis as “decades-long and devastating,” urged the state’s leadership to confront the root causes of the violence, while directing security agencies to fish out those behind the carnage.
“The ongoing violence between communities in Plateau State, rooted in misunderstandings between different ethnic and religious groups, must cease,” President Tinubu declared.
“I have instructed security agencies to thoroughly investigate this crisis and identify those responsible for orchestrating these violent acts. We cannot allow this devastation and the tit-for-tat attacks to continue. Enough is enough.”
He charged Governor Mutfwang to summon the political will needed to bring enduring peace to the region. “These problems have been with us for more than two decades. We can no longer ignore the underlying issues. It is time to tackle them fairly and find a lasting solution,” Tinubu said.
He further noted that he had previously engaged the governor in discussions, offering strategic suggestions aimed at lasting peace.
The president also called on community, spiritual, and political leaders across Plateau and Nigeria at large to work together in halting the cycle of bloodshed that has plagued many communities in the North-Central region.
According to Tinubu, “Beyond dealing with the criminal elements of these incessant killings, the political leadership in Plateau State must address the root cause of this age-long problem.”
Meanwhile, Channels Television reports that the death toll from the latest incident in the Zike community, Kwall district of Bassa LGA, has risen to 51. Community leader Wakili Tongwe confirmed that the attackers stormed the village in the early hours of Monday, opening fire on residents who fled for safety.
The attack, believed to be retaliatory, left dozens of homes destroyed, displacing many families who are now in dire need of shelter and security.
The Federal Government, Tinubu assured, is committed to supporting Plateau State in efforts to build social cohesion, promote dialogue, and ensure justice. “We will not relent until peace returns to all troubled parts of Nigeria,” he concluded.
As Plateau grapples with yet another heartbreaking tragedy, all eyes are now on the state’s leadership and the federal response to ensure the violence does not spiral further.
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