ActionAid Nigeria has strongly condemned the attack on Zike community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, which left over 40 civilians dead in a single night.

ActionAid Country Director Andrew Mamedu, in a statement, lamented that the cold-blooded massacre, carried out in the early hours of Monday, April 14, was another chapter in the shameful cycle of violence that has plagued Plateau State.

He pointed out that the attack was not a sudden or unpredictable tragedy as community members, raised alarms ahead of the attack, warned of threats, and called for help, but unfortunately they were ignored.

He lamented that attackers stormed Zike around midnight and operated for nearly two hours, killing, burning and destroying, while security forces were nowhere to be found.

Mamedu condemned the act and slammed the Nigerian government for its continued failure to protect lives of Nigerians in Plateau state and across the country.

The social justice organisation demanded immediate and concrete action from the Federal and Plateau State Governments, including thorough, independent investigation into the Zike massacre, and prosecution of perpetrators.

They also called for urgent deployment of well-equipped and accountable security personnel to protect high-risk communities, direct humanitarian intervention for survivors: shelter, food, trauma care, and medical support.

They further harped on the need for clear and time-bound strategy to end impunity and prevent further violence, with full community participation, as well as sructural peace building measures to address the root causes of the crisis; land disputes, ethnic tension, state neglect, and militarised impunity.

ActionAid Nigeria also called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, and the Chief of Defence Staff to take action, saying condemnations after each attack mean nothing if they are not followed by action.