The peaceful Irigwe community in Bassa County, Plateau state, has been rocked by two devastating attacks in less than 24 hours. Four individuals have been killed, demonstrating the ongoing insecurity faced by Christian farming communities, which are often targeted by Fulani militias in the region.
On the evening of 23 March, a gruesome ambush unfolded as three men made their way home from Kwall. The victims have been identified as John Avia, 48; Sunday Vickson, 32; and Peter Vickson, 30.
Less than a day later, on 24 March, the nightmare continued with another ambush. This time, Dumba Yohanna Monday, 33, was targeted and brutally killed near the military shooting range at Nzharuvo, while another individual narrowly escaped death.
These tragic incidents are the latest in a long history of violence against the Irigwe people, a primarily Christian ethnic group that has endured systematic attacks resulting in the deaths of over 110 people in the last eight years. The recent assaults have plunged the community into mourning, stirring fears of more violence. Local leaders are calling on the government to take decisive steps against the attackers.
A local elder, who chose to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, voiced the community’s anguish: “For years, we have pleaded for help,” he said. “How many more lives must be lost before the government takes meaningful action?”
Submit a Prayer