Global human rights watchdog, the Amnesty International, has condemned the killing of at least 51 people during a deadly overnight attack on Zikke village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing it as a grim reflection of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
The attack, which occurred late Sunday night, where armed men storm Zikke village, setting homes ablaze and looted properties before slaughtering residents who could not escape — many of them children and the elderly.
However, survivors found the charred remains of loved ones and blood-soaked compounds at dawn.
“This is a horrific and senseless massacre. The government must move beyond issuing bland statements and show genuine commitment to protecting lives,” Amnesty International said in a statement on Monday.
“The inexcusable security lapses that enabled this deadly attack — just two weeks after 52 people were similarly killed — must be urgently investigated.”
It was gathered that the attackers moved from house to house with machetes and guns, torching huts and killing indiscriminately.
Entire households were wiped out, and survivors are now sheltering in nearby villages or makeshift camps without any clear support from the government.
Plateau State has been one of the hardest-hit regions in Nigeria’s long-running conflict involving herder-farmer tensions, communal clashes, and banditry.
Meanwhile, the latest attack comes amid rising concern over the government’s failure to stem the violence.
Between December 2023 and February 2024 alone, Amnesty International reported that 1336 people were killed in Plateau State. Among them were 533 women, 263 children, and 540 men.
The wave of violence has also displaced more than 29,554 people — including 13,093 children and 16,461 women.
“These patterns of violence are not random. They reflect a complete failure by the Nigerian authorities to protect rural communities,” the group stated.
“These villagers have effectively been abandoned to the mercy of gunmen.”
President Bola Tinubu has insisted that his administration is rolling out “new security strategies” to combat terrorism and criminal violence. However, rights groups and residents say the bloodshed in Plateau State paints a different picture.
“Whatever new measures are being implemented, they are clearly not working,” Amnesty International stated.
The organisation is calling for independent investigations into the recent attacks and for those responsible to be held accountable.
It also urged the government to immediately reinforce protection for vulnerable communities and ensure displaced persons receive adequate humanitarian support.
