Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Amnesty International has condemned the killing of at least 54 people in Zikke village, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing the attack as an "inexcusable security failure" and declaring that the security measures President Bola Tinubu claims to be implementing are not working. The massacre occurred between 12am and 1am on Saturday, September 26, 2026, when gunmen invaded the village, shot sporadically, razed residential houses, and looted homes. The victims included children and the elderly, many of whom were slaughtered and left in pools of blood as they could not run.
The attack came barely two weeks after 52 people were killed in a similar assault in the same local government area, a pattern that Amnesty International said demonstrated the authorities' failure to protect rural communities. "Amnesty International strongly condemns the killing of at least 54 people between 12:00 am to 1:00 am last night when gunmen invaded Zikke village of Bassa LGA, Plateau State. Along the way, the gunmen also razed villages and looted homes, destroying everything on their path," the organisation said in a report posted on its X handle on Saturday. "While those killed are being prepared for mass burial, more dead bodies are being discovered in the bush."
The human rights body painted a grim picture of the aftermath, noting that many of the victims could not flee. "Many of the victims of last night's deadly attack that could not run — including children and the elderly — were slaughtered and left in pools of blood," Amnesty said. It called for an investigation into what it described as "the inexcusable security lapses that enabled this horrific attack, two weeks after the killing of 52 people." The attack was initially reported as the killing of 51 people, but the death toll rose to 54 as more bodies were discovered. Amnesty provided casualty figures covering Plateau State from December 2023 to February 2024, revealing that at least 1,336 people were killed during the period. Of those killed, 533 were women, 263 were children, and 540 were men. Over 29,554 people were displaced, out of which 13,093 were children while 16,461 were women.
The rights group directed its sharpest criticism at President Tinubu's administration, saying that while the President claims his government is implementing new security measures to address rising insecurity, the recent attacks in Plateau State show that whatever measures have been implemented are not working. "While President Bola Tinubu claims his government is implementing new security measures to address the rising insecurity in the country, the recent attacks in Plateau state show that whatever security measures implemented are not working," Amnesty declared. It warned that the patterns of recent deadly attacks on rural areas of Plateau State clearly show that Nigerian authorities have left these communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen. "Nigerian authorities' failure to tame the tide of this horrific violence is costing people's lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action, many more lives will be lost," the organisation said.
Amnesty also warned that issuing "bland statements condemning these horrific attacks is not enough," adding that genuine commitment to protecting the people must be demonstrated by ensuring adequate security of lives and property, as well as ensuring justice for the victims. "Consistent failure of the authorities to bring the actual suspected perpetrators to justice is emboldening impunity," it stated.
The attack has drawn responses from state officials. Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State visited Zikke village to commiserate with the people and urged residents to remain vigilant and be prepared to defend themselves. The Plateau State Government imposed a 48-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area following previous attacks in March 2026, but the violence has continued unabated. The Nigerian government has consistently maintained that it is taking steps to address the security crisis, including increased military deployments and intelligence operations across the North-Central region. However, Amnesty's statement reflects a growing frustration among human rights organisations and affected communities that these measures have not translated into tangible protection for civilians.
The Zikke massacre is the latest in a long series of attacks that have devastated Plateau State and the wider Middle Belt region. The cycle of violence has been fuelled by a complex mix of factors, including land disputes, grazing rights, ethnic tensions, and the failure of the state to provide security and deliver justice. Armed groups have exploited these grievances, operating with impunity and striking rural communities that are often far from security outposts. The result has been mass displacement, loss of livelihoods, and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
The timing of the attack is particularly troubling. It came just weeks after Amnesty International reported that at least 10,217 people were killed in attacks by gunmen across seven states in the first two years of President Tinubu's administration. Benue State accounted for the highest death toll, followed by Plateau State, where 2,630 people were killed. The report underscored the scale of the security crisis and raised questions about the effectiveness of the federal government's response. The President has repeatedly promised to end the violence, but the killings have continued, and the communities affected are losing faith in the government's ability to protect them.
For the people of Zikke village, the grief is compounded by the knowledge that this attack was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern that has claimed hundreds of lives in the same local government area in recent months. They have buried their dead before, and they are burying them again. The mass burial that was underway on Saturday was interrupted by the discovery of more bodies in the bush, a grim reminder that the full toll of the attack may not be known for days. The survivors have been displaced, their homes destroyed, their farms abandoned. They are left to wonder whether anyone in authority will be held accountable, or whether the cycle of violence will simply continue until there is no one left to bury.
Amnesty International's condemnation is a stark reminder that the security crisis in Plateau State is not just a local problem but a national failure. The organisation has called for urgent action, including thorough investigations into the attacks and the prosecution of those responsible. But for the families of the 54 people killed in Zikke village, the question is not whether the government will issue another statement or launch another investigation. The question is whether they will live to see the day when the violence ends and the perpetrators are brought to justice.
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