• 2,866 attacks, 1,107 deaths, 412 injuries, others in 25 years
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The sociocultural organisation of Irigwe people of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Irigwe Development Association (IDA), has called for justice in the face of unwarranted attacks that has kept communities under siege in the last 25 years.
It claimed that 2,866 attacks were carried out with a death toll of 1,107, 412 injuries, two rapes, 20,836 rooms, 742 barns and 27,330 farms, destroyed between 2001 and March 2025.
The organisation disclosed that between January 1 and March 28, 2025, 58 attacks took place with eight deaths, eight injuries and over 50 farm destructions recorded.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the President of IDA, Rev. Daniel Gya, the General Secretary Amb. Danjuma Auta and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Jugo David on the ongoing killings in the locality.
IDA appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Adesina, to establish a division in Miango to stem the tide of insecurity.
“In the beginning, these attacks were in the form of ambushes, destructions of farm crops, rape of women and girls on their way to farms or in search of firewood in the wild. It metamorphosed into attacks with firearms. Beginning from January 2025, all the killings to date were largely by ambushes on unsuspecting passersby.”
According to them, a research conducted by Mr. Barrie, from 2001 to March, has indicated that “a total of 2,866 incidents, 1,107 deaths, 412 injuries, 2 rapes, 20,836 rooms destroyed, 742 barns and 27,330 farms were recorded. Most of the victims are languishing in abject poverty, unable to fend for their families at the time of this report.”
The traditional council of Irigwe land and IDA appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid to prevent the Rigwe nation from extinction and obliteration of its source of livelihood.
“The Rigwe nation is law-abiding and believes in the peaceful coexistence of all nations, tribes, creeds and religions, and pleads with all stakeholders in the peace process to come together and ensure these carnage come to an end.
“This is not the first time we are making this form of appeal and raising concerns over the continuous carnage on our land. We have continued to lose our loved ones in guerrilla style attacks by assailants whom many have been afraid to name, while most of the victims are languishing in abject poverty, unable to fend for their families.”
They expressed concerns over setbacks recorded after the signing of a peace pact by both the natives and the Fulani herders over the years.
“This milestone achievement led to the formation of the 17-man Peace Implementation Committee for Irigwe chiefdom in May 2024 by the erstwhile GOC, 3 Division/ Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Maj. Gen. AE Abubakar and with the responsibility of implementing the 17-point agreement hitherto signed.
“Despite these efforts by concerned stakeholders, sporadic and intermittent skirmishes have continued to be recorded. Beginning from January 1 to March 28, 2025, 58 incidents, eight deaths, eight injuries and more than 50 farm destructions were recorded, as compiled by Mr. Gastor Barrie.”
They, however, thanked the state government and Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, who visited Irigwe chiefdom on January 27 on an assessment tour and promised to establish a mobile police barracks at Zashi, Kwall, to further bolster the ongoing efforts at lasting peace in the area and Plateau State at large.
“To think that these attacks and killings have continued despite a peace pact and ongoing efforts by the peace committee, is most worrisome as it makes rubbish the wisdom of all the stakeholders that brokered these avenues,” the leaders stated bitterly.