THREE FAMILY MEMBERS K!LLED IN PLATEAU FARM ATTACK AS PEACE TALKS HOLD IN BASSA
Tragedy struck on Tuesday in the Miango District of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State, as three members of a family were brutally k!lled while harvesting crops on their farm.
According to community sources, the victims were ambushed by yet-to-be-identified assailants. Two other family members sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving emergency medical treatment at a hospital in Jos.
The attack occurred at a particularly sensitive moment coinciding with peace talks convened by a state-appointed fact-finding committee in Bassa. The committee, inaugurated by the Plateau State Government last week, is tasked with investigating the root causes of recurring violence in the region and proposing sustainable solutions.
Chairman of the committee, retired Major General Rogers Nicholas, expressed deep sorrow over the killings.
“Today is one of the saddest days of my life. We were in a meeting with the local government chairman to chart a path to peace when the devastating news reached us,” Nicholas said.
Mapis Marawes, spokesperson for the Bokkos Local Government, revealed that the committee’s mandate includes community engagement, reconciliation efforts, and tackling the structural factors driving the unrest.
“The government is committed to finding lasting peace in Plateau. That is why this committee was constituted to dig deep into the causes and offer real solutions,” Marawes stated.
Nicholas also appealed for calm, urging the Irigwe youth and other aggrieved groups to refrain from reprisal attacks and allow security agencies to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The victims have since been buried, while security operatives have intensified patrols in the area. However, police are yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
A HISTORY OF BLOODSHED
Miango, a predominantly farming community, has long been a flashpoint of violent clashes, often involving the Irigwe ethnic group and nomadic Fulani herders. The disputes typically revolve around land ownership, grazing routes, and access to dwindling natural resources.
The crisis, which dates back to the early 2000s, has led to devastating human and economic losses including mass killings, displacements, and the destruction of farmlands and homes.
Despite various peace-building interventions by government and civil society groups, efforts have repeatedly been undermined by deep-seated mistrust, poor enforcement of peace agreements, and socioeconomic challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and political exclusion.
In 2021, a deadly attack in the same Bassa region claimed dozens of lives and displaced entire communities, sparking nationwide outrage.
While military interventions have helped reduce the frequency of large-scale violence, sporadic killings have continued, often igniting fresh tensions and retaliatory attacks from both farmers and herders.
As Plateau State continues to grapple with fragile peace, Tuesday’s tragic incident underscores the urgent need for effective conflict resolution, justice delivery, and long-term development to break the cycle of violence.
