At least 47 people were killed in gunmen attacks on the Zike and Kimakpa communities in the Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau on Sunday night.

The attack comes days after 52 people were killed and properties were destroyed in the Bokkos Local Government Area of the state.

The national secretary of the Irigwe Development Association, Danjuma Auta, told journalists that several others were also injured in the latest attack, which happened around 8:00 p.m.

“It resulted in the deaths of 47 people and left many others injured,” said Mr Auta. “Many houses were razed down by the attackers, and properties were equally destroyed.”

Brig.-Gen. Gakji Shipi, the acting coordinator of Operation Rainbow, a state-owned security outfit, also confirmed the incident to journalists on Monday in Jos.

Mr Shipi, also the special adviser on internal security to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, however, did not confirm the number of persons killed.

“It is unfortunate; this is really a major setback to the peace process in the state.

“Government and security agencies are on top of the situation, and we will soon nip these ugly incidents in the bud,” he said.

Meanwhile, the national publicity secretary of the Irigwe Youth Movement, Joseph Yonkpa, told HumAngle that the group had alerted residents and security operatives to a potential threat hours before the attack.

Mr Yonkpa, however, expressed disappointment that security operatives failed to respond to their alarm and did not confront the gunmen during the attack, adding, “The security people only showed up this morning.”

He said victims injured during the attack had been admitted to the Jos University Teaching Hospital and other hospitals nearby.

The state police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls and messages sent by Peoples Gazette seeking comment about the incident.