Tragedy struck the Ngbra Zongo community in the Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State, during the early hours of Friday as gunmen launched a brutal midnight assault.
At least 13 people were confirmed dead following the attack, which reportedly began around midnight when assailants stormed the village.
The attackers used a combination of firearms and machetes, shooting sporadically and hacking residents as they moved through the settlement, leaving a trail of blood and displacement in their wake.
Local witnesses described a scene of absolute terror as the attackers moved systematically from house to house. Resident, Philip Alanga, recounted how families were forced to flee into nearby bushes for safety under the cover of darkness while the assailants targeted innocent people in their homes.
Another resident, Chigoji Rocku, revealed the particularly gruesome nature of the violence, disclosing that the victims included three pregnant women who were unable to escape the carnage.
The Secretary General of the Irigwe Development Association, Danjuma Auta, confirmed the incident and condemned the killings as both tragic and senseless.
Auta expressed deep frustration over the recurring cycle of violence that continues to plague Bassa and other regions of Plateau State.
He issued an urgent plea to security agencies to intensify their presence in the area, stressing the immediate need to protect vulnerable communities and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
As of the time of reporting, the Plateau State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the massacre.
While the motive behind the raid remains unclear, the attack has reignited fears among local populations who have long suffered from intermittent communal violence and banditry.
For now, the survivors of Ngbra Zongo remain in mourning as they count the cost of another night of devastating bloodshed.
