President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has ordered Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang to take decisive action in addressing the long-standing crisis in the state and to establish lasting peace. This directive follows a tragic attack on Zike hamlet in the Kimakpa community, Kwall district of Irigwe Chiefdom, Bassa Local Government Area, where 52 persons were confirmed killed and a family of eight completely wiped out. Property was also destroyed, and mass burials have already been conducted for the victims.

While the Nigerian army has rescued 16 previously abducted individuals in the area, Christian leaders in the state are planning a protest over the incessant killings. In a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the president condemned the violence and expressed deep sympathy to the state government and people of Plateau.

Tinubu emphasised the urgent need for harmony across religious and ethnic lines and called on all stakeholders, community, spiritual, and political leaders, to work together to end the cycle of retaliatory violence.

He stressed that security agencies have been tasked with investigating and bringing perpetrators to justice, declaring that the era of tit-for-tat killings must end. The president insisted that the political leadership in the state must address the root causes of the conflict, which has plagued the region for over two decades.

He noted that he had previously discussed the issue with Governor Mutfwang and offered suggestions aimed at achieving sustainable peace. President Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting Plateau State’s efforts in promoting dialogue, unity, and accountability as critical steps toward resolving the conflict.

Meanwhile, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia warned that no individual or group should enter the state without his knowledge, asserting that he cannot guarantee the safety of such persons, further highlighting growing regional security concerns.