At least 10 people are feared dead and many others injured after gunmen invaded the Angwan Rukuba community in Plateau State in the early hours of Monday. The attackers reportedly stormed the village while the residents were still asleep, burning several houses and destroying farmlands. This latest invasion has caused mass displacement, with hundreds of people fleeing to neighboring towns for safety.
Eyewitnesses stated that the gunmen operated with “impunity” for several hours before the arrival of security forces. The injured victims have been rushed to the nearest hospitals, with many of them in critical condition. The state government has described the attack as “barbaric” and has vowed to bring the culprits to justice.
The cycle of violence in the Middle Belt
Plateau State has been a flashpoint for ethnic and religious violence for decades, leading to the loss of thousands of lives. The latest attack follows a familiar pattern of hit-and-run raids on remote communities. The cycle of “attack and retaliation” has made it difficult for peace to take root in many parts of the state.
Community leaders have expressed their disappointment with the slow response of the security agencies to the distress calls. They believe that if the security forces had arrived earlier, the death toll would have been significantly lower. The lack of trust between the communities and the security agencies remains a major hurdle to achieving lasting peace.
Addressing the humanitarian crisis in the affected area
The displacement of hundreds of people has created a humanitarian crisis that the state government is struggling to manage. Temporary camps have been set up for the displaced persons, but they lack basic amenities like food, water, and medicine. Non-governmental organizations have been called upon to provide assistance to the victims of the attack.
The state government has promised to rebuild the destroyed homes and to provide seeds and fertilizers for the farmers whose crops were destroyed. However, many residents are afraid to return to their villages for fear of further attacks. They are demanding a more permanent security presence to protect their lives and their livelihoods.
The search for a lasting peace in Plateau
The Governor has met with several traditional rulers and religious leaders to discuss ways to end the violence in the state. He has emphasized that “peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice.” The administration is looking into setting up a local peace commission to address the grievances of the different groups.
As the state mourns the loss of another 10 citizens, the need for a national conversation on regional security is more urgent than ever. The people of Plateau State deserve to live in peace and to go about their daily activities without the fear of being killed in their sleep. The government must move beyond rhetoric and take decisive action to secure the state.
