A government-appointed fact-finding committee set up by Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, visited Bassa Local Government Area on Monday 23rd June as fresh killings reignited grief and growing demands for justice in the violence-stricken communities.
The visit came in the wake of yet another deadly attack in Te’egbe village, where a woman and her two daughters were brutally murdered on their farmland while harvesting tomatoes. Two others were seriously injured in the attack and are receiving treatment in Jos.
The tragic incident occurred while the committee was still conducting its investigations in the area, highlighting the persistent insecurity and deep-rooted tensions that have plagued Bassa and surrounding communities for over two decades.
Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of Bassa LGA, Dr. Joshua Riti, condemned the attack and lamented the scale of the violence that has plagued the region for over two decades.
“We are saddened and disheartened to record another death while the Fact-Finding Committee was still conducting its mission here. The moment we received news of the attack, the meeting was cut short, and we rushed to the scene where we found three people dead and two severely injured,” Dr. Riti said.
“Since 2001, nearly 2,000 lives have been lost in this area. Farmlands are routinely destroyed, and we’re still asking: what have we done to deserve this? Mere condemnation is no longer enough — justice must be done, because peace cannot exist in the absence of justice.”
According to a youth leader from Te’egbe, the attackers were identified as Fulani herdsmen from across the border in Kaduna State.
“In previous attacks, they came from Kimis. This time, they came from Baduru in Kaduna. One of the victims left his phone behind while fleeing, and when we called the number, they picked and spoke in Fulani,” he said.
Mr. Lawrence Zongo, the Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Youth Movement and a human rights activist, also addressed the committee and journalists, highlighting the ongoing impact of the violence.
“These attacks by Fulani ethnic militias on Irigwe communities have continued since 2001. Over 1,000 people have been killed, more than 1,000 hectares of farmland destroyed. Just in the last two years, we have lost over 200 lives,” he said.
“These people only went to harvest crops, but today, we’re harvesting corpses. During this farming season, we bury three to five people almost daily — mostly women, children, and young adults. Yet no arrests have been made.”
He further noted that a peace agreement between Fulani and Irigwe leaders was not being honoured. Among the terms were the prohibition of night grazing, underage herding, and the commitment to arrest perpetrators. Zongo urged the committee to remain impartial and to ensure that justice is pursued equally across all affected communities.
“Look at what happened in Mangu — 22 suspects were arrested immediately. Why is it different here?” he asked.
Chairman of the Committee, retired Major General Nicholas Rogas, urged residents not to take the law into their hands but instead cooperate with security agencies and government authorities.
“This is the second place we’re visiting today in Bassa. We’ve seen mass grave sites — one with 54 victims in Zike, another in Miango with over 40, and one in Kwall where three were buried following an ambush two weeks ago,” he said.
“These atrocities must not continue. We urge community youths to be law-abiding and work with security forces. That said, communities must prepare to defend themselves. The terrain is difficult, and even if the military is two kilometers away, it could take over an hour to reach. Local vigilantes should be trained to bridge this gap.”
He also advised the Bassa LGA Chairman to strengthen communication and collaboration with neighboring local government chairmen across the state border.
“Some of these attacks are cross-border. We encourage dialogue and a joint security strategy to ensure early warnings and effective response,” he said.
“We thank Governor Mutfwang for establishing this committee. Other state governors should take similar steps to identify and address root causes of violence in their regions.”
During the committee’s stop at Duse Kura, a Fulani-dominated community, Ardo Bako called for a more balanced narrative in the media.
“Whenever there’s an attack on Irigwe communities, it’s immediately blamed on Fulani. This generalization fuels hatred and division. We also suffer killings and destruction. Just a few days ago, we buried our own,” he said.
“We are willing to continue intelligence sharing and cooperation as we did in the past — but we must first end the division.”
Ardo Wada Waziri of the Miango community expressed frustration at the growing mistrust.
“I own a farm within Bassa that my father bought. But I dare not go there now. Our cows are being killed, and our people murdered. We want the killings to stop.”
Jonah Jacob, Youth Leader of the Rukuba people in Duse Kura, said both Irigwe and Fulani communities bear responsibility for escalating tensions.
“There’s a pattern: Fulani youths graze at night on Irigwe farmland. In retaliation, some Irigwe youths capture or kill the cows, which triggers reprisals. Often, the cows don’t belong to the herders themselves, and their owners retaliate violently.
Drug abuse among youths on both sides is also a major factor,” he explained.
The committee concluded its visit with a renewed call for justice and reconciliation. They pledged to compile their findings and submit actionable recommendations to the state government.
The people of Bassa, meanwhile, await not just words but visible steps to halt the cycle of violence that has plagued their communities for over two decades.