Amnesty International has issued a strong condemnation following a brutal attack that claimed the lives of at least 51 people in Zikke village, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack, which occurred late Sunday night, saw armed assailants storm the village, razing homes, looting property, and leaving a trail of destruction.
According to Amnesty, many of the victims, including children and the elderly, were unable to flee and were slaughtered in cold blood.
The organization described the killings as “horrific” and called for a thorough investigation into the security lapses that allowed the attack to take place—just two weeks after a similar incident claimed 52 lives in the region.
“It is unacceptable that such atrocities continue to occur with impunity,” the rights group said. “Mere condemnation is not enough. The government must demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting lives by ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable and justice is served.”
Despite recent assurances by President Bola Tinubu that new security measures are being implemented to address rising insecurity across Nigeria, Amnesty International argues that these efforts have failed to prevent recurrent violence in Plateau State.
From December 2023 to February 2024, Amnesty reports that 1,336 people were killed in Plateau State alone. The toll includes 533 women, 263 children, and 540 men. Additionally, over 29,500 people have been displaced, including more than 13,000 children and 16,000 women.
“These coordinated attacks show a dangerous pattern,” Amnesty warned. “The Nigerian authorities have effectively abandoned rural communities to the mercy of heavily armed assailants. Continued inaction is costing innocent lives and threatening the stability of the region.”
The rights group is calling for immediate and decisive action from the government to halt the violence, protect vulnerable communities, and deliver justice to the victims and their families.