Bandits Kill 49 in Coordinated Plateau State Attack: Community Left Devastated”
Body:
In a horrific escalation of violence, 49 people were brutally killed and dozens injured during a late-night attack on Zike Kimakpa community in Plateau State’s Bassa Local Government Area (LGA). The assault, which occurred on Sunday, December 10, marks the latest in a wave of attacks plaguing the region, raising urgent questions about security and community safety.
Key Details of the Attack
- Death Toll: 49 confirmed fatalities, with recovery efforts ongoing.
- Injured: Multiple victims hospitalized with critical injuries.
- Property Damage: Over 30 homes razed, displacing families.
- Perpetrators: Armed bandits launched a “well-coordinated assault”, firing sporadically to instill panic.
Eyewitness & Official Accounts
Danjuma Dickson Auta (Secretary, Irigwe Development Association):
“This was a planned attack. We’re recovering bodies, and the devastation is unimaginable. Our people are traumatized.”
Hon. Joyce Ramnap (Plateau Commissioner for Information):
- Condemned the “existential threat” to peace-loving communities.
- Linked the attack to recent violence in Bokkos LGA (December 2023).
- Warned against reprisals, urging vigilance and cooperation with security forces.
Government Response
- Gov. Caleb Mutfwang’s administration vowed to “deal decisively” with perpetrators.
- Security operatives mobilized to hunt down attackers.
- Calls for federal intervention intensify amid rising insecurity.
Context: A State Under Siege
Plateau State has endured over 200 fatalities in 2023 alone from bandit raids. The Irigwe Chiefdom in Bassa LGA remains a hotspot, with repeated attacks eroding trust in security frameworks.
About the author
NiMet Warns of Three-Day Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain Across Nigeria
NiMet Predicts Widespread Rain and Thunderstorms The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned that thunderstorms and heavy rains will affect many parts of Nigeria from Saturday to Monday . This weather outlook was released on Friday in Abuja and shared by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The forecast covers all regions of the country, with varying intensity and timing across states. Saturday: Storms Begin in the North and Central Zones Early on Saturday, thunderstorms were expected in parts of: Taraba Kebbi Zamfara Kaduna Adamawa Later in the day, thunderstorms with rain were likely in: Borno, Sokoto, Gombe, and Bauchi In the North-Central region , early morning storms were predicted for: Benue, Plateau, Niger, FCT, and Nasarawa By afternoon, thunderstorms and rain were expected to spread to: FCT, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, Kogi, and Plateau Cloudy skies with morning rain […]
Polio: Kano Man Narrates How UNICEF and Deputy Governor Spurred Him to Immunise His Child
Father Changes Mind After Hearing Officials Speak Dan Jumai Ubale, from Bunkure Local Government Area in Kano , decided to immunise his two-year-old daughter after attending a polio campaign event. He was moved by speeches given by the Deputy Governor , Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam , and the UNICEF Chief in Kano , Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah . He later returned with his daughter, Hafsat Musbahu , for immediate vaccination. He was joined by his wife, Hajiya Sahura Balarabe . “I Thought the Vaccine Was Harmful” Ubale admitted that he once believed the polio vaccine was dangerous . “I thought it was a plan by Western countries to reduce Africa’s population.” But after listening to the officials speak, he said his views completely changed. “Now I know the vaccine protects children. I don’t want my daughter to get sick or […]
“I Have No Regret at All” – Wike Defends Naming Abuja Conference Centre After Tinubu
Wike Stands by Decision to Name Conference Centre After Tinubu Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike , has defended the renaming of the Abuja International Conference Centre after President Bola Tinubu . He made the remarks in Abuja on Friday , during the inauguration of the completed 15-kilometre left-hand service carriage way of OSEX Stage II , from Ring Road I to Wassa Junction . The decision to rename the facility as the Tinubu International Conference Centre sparked criticism from some members of the public. Others questioned the N39 billion spent on its renovation, calling it a misplaced priority . “I Have No Regret at All,” Says Wike In response to the backlash, Wike said: “I have done it, and I have no regret at all.” He asked why some people were criticising the naming of the […]
Peter Obi Calls for National Emergency Over Benue Killings
Obi Demands National Emergency Over Benue Violence Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the recent wave of killings in Benue State . More than 200 lives were reportedly lost in a single attack, with many victims being women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons. In a statement released on Sunday, Obi said the tragedy has become too frequent in Nigerian life , and called for a national emergency to address the situation. He described the attacks as not just violence, but a failure of leadership and a moral stain on the country’s conscience. “Every life lost is a Nigerian life—each one precious, each one irreplaceable.” Government Must Act, Not Just React Obi questioned the ability of the government at all levels to protect citizens when such large-scale loss of life continues unchecked. “The primary duty of any government […]
Iran-Bound Businessman Nabbed at Port Harcourt Airport for Ingesting 53 Cocaine Wraps
Cocaine Found in Swallowed Wraps A 44-year-old man, Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka Christian , was arrested at Port Harcourt International Airport on 7 June . He was trying to board a Qatar Airways flight to Tehran , Iran, when he was stopped by NDLEA officers . A body scan showed signs of drug ingestion. He later excreted 53 wraps of cocaine in six batches. The total weight was 1.172 kilograms . The arrest was announced in a statement by Femi Babafemi of the NDLEA . Ezemokwe admitted to trafficking drugs for two years. He said he had made several trips between West Africa and Iran . Recent Trend Seen in Iran-Bound Flights Less than two weeks earlier, another man, Chinedu Leonard Okigbo, 60 , was caught at Kano International Airport with 65 pellets of cocaine in his stomach while trying to fly […]
Africa’s Richest Man Retires from Refinery After 20 Years as Chairman
Dangote Steps Down as Chairman After Two Decades Aliko Dangote , widely recognized as Africa’s richest man , has officially retired as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc after serving in that role for over 20 years . His exit marks a major milestone in the history of one of Nigeria’s most iconic industrial enterprises. Dangote, who founded the Dangote Group , has played a central role in shaping the Nigerian sugar industry, driving local production, and reducing reliance on imports. Under his leadership, the refinery became a dominant force in West Africa, known for its efficiency, scale, and commitment to quality. A Legacy of Vision and Impact During his tenure, Dangote oversaw significant growth and modernization of the sugar refining sector in Nigeria. He championed investments in infrastructure, technology upgrades, and policy advocacy aimed […]
Related
NiMet Warns of Three-Day Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain Across Nigeria
NiMet Predicts Widespread Rain and Thunderstorms The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned that thunderstorms and heavy rains will affect many parts of Nigeria from Saturday to Monday . This weather outlook was released on Friday in Abuja and shared by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The forecast covers all regions of the country, with varying intensity and timing across states. Saturday: Storms Begin in the North and Central Zones Early on Saturday, thunderstorms were expected in parts of: Taraba Kebbi Zamfara Kaduna Adamawa Later in the day, thunderstorms with rain were likely in: Borno, Sokoto, Gombe, and Bauchi In the North-Central region , early morning storms were predicted for: Benue, Plateau, Niger, FCT, and Nasarawa By afternoon, thunderstorms and rain were expected to spread to: FCT, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, Kogi, and Plateau Cloudy skies with morning rain […]
Polio: Kano Man Narrates How UNICEF and Deputy Governor Spurred Him to Immunise His Child
Father Changes Mind After Hearing Officials Speak Dan Jumai Ubale, from Bunkure Local Government Area in Kano , decided to immunise his two-year-old daughter after attending a polio campaign event. He was moved by speeches given by the Deputy Governor , Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam , and the UNICEF Chief in Kano , Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah . He later returned with his daughter, Hafsat Musbahu , for immediate vaccination. He was joined by his wife, Hajiya Sahura Balarabe . “I Thought the Vaccine Was Harmful” Ubale admitted that he once believed the polio vaccine was dangerous . “I thought it was a plan by Western countries to reduce Africa’s population.” But after listening to the officials speak, he said his views completely changed. “Now I know the vaccine protects children. I don’t want my daughter to get sick or […]
“I Have No Regret at All” – Wike Defends Naming Abuja Conference Centre After Tinubu
Wike Stands by Decision to Name Conference Centre After Tinubu Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike , has defended the renaming of the Abuja International Conference Centre after President Bola Tinubu . He made the remarks in Abuja on Friday , during the inauguration of the completed 15-kilometre left-hand service carriage way of OSEX Stage II , from Ring Road I to Wassa Junction . The decision to rename the facility as the Tinubu International Conference Centre sparked criticism from some members of the public. Others questioned the N39 billion spent on its renovation, calling it a misplaced priority . “I Have No Regret at All,” Says Wike In response to the backlash, Wike said: “I have done it, and I have no regret at all.” He asked why some people were criticising the naming of the […]
Peter Obi Calls for National Emergency Over Benue Killings
Obi Demands National Emergency Over Benue Violence Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the recent wave of killings in Benue State . More than 200 lives were reportedly lost in a single attack, with many victims being women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons. In a statement released on Sunday, Obi said the tragedy has become too frequent in Nigerian life , and called for a national emergency to address the situation. He described the attacks as not just violence, but a failure of leadership and a moral stain on the country’s conscience. “Every life lost is a Nigerian life—each one precious, each one irreplaceable.” Government Must Act, Not Just React Obi questioned the ability of the government at all levels to protect citizens when such large-scale loss of life continues unchecked. “The primary duty of any government […]
Iran-Bound Businessman Nabbed at Port Harcourt Airport for Ingesting 53 Cocaine Wraps
Cocaine Found in Swallowed Wraps A 44-year-old man, Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka Christian , was arrested at Port Harcourt International Airport on 7 June . He was trying to board a Qatar Airways flight to Tehran , Iran, when he was stopped by NDLEA officers . A body scan showed signs of drug ingestion. He later excreted 53 wraps of cocaine in six batches. The total weight was 1.172 kilograms . The arrest was announced in a statement by Femi Babafemi of the NDLEA . Ezemokwe admitted to trafficking drugs for two years. He said he had made several trips between West Africa and Iran . Recent Trend Seen in Iran-Bound Flights Less than two weeks earlier, another man, Chinedu Leonard Okigbo, 60 , was caught at Kano International Airport with 65 pellets of cocaine in his stomach while trying to fly […]
Africa’s Richest Man Retires from Refinery After 20 Years as Chairman
Dangote Steps Down as Chairman After Two Decades Aliko Dangote , widely recognized as Africa’s richest man , has officially retired as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc after serving in that role for over 20 years . His exit marks a major milestone in the history of one of Nigeria’s most iconic industrial enterprises. Dangote, who founded the Dangote Group , has played a central role in shaping the Nigerian sugar industry, driving local production, and reducing reliance on imports. Under his leadership, the refinery became a dominant force in West Africa, known for its efficiency, scale, and commitment to quality. A Legacy of Vision and Impact During his tenure, Dangote oversaw significant growth and modernization of the sugar refining sector in Nigeria. He championed investments in infrastructure, technology upgrades, and policy advocacy aimed […]