Following the recent attack that claimed more than 50 lives in Zikke, the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has apologised to grieving families, admitting the government’s inability to safeguard their lives and property.
The governor, visibly emotional during a condolence visit on Tuesday, addressed residents at the palace of the paramount ruler of Miango.
He confessed to being overwhelmed by grief, following the massacre that occurred in the early hours of Monday, April 14.
“I will tell you the truth: I have been crying since yesterday because I had trusted God that all the arrangements were put in place, that this will not happen again. We have made investments in security.
“But like all human arrangements, sometimes they fail. I want to admit that on Sunday night into Monday morning, we failed you. Please, forgive me,” Mutfwang stated.
The recent attack follows closely on the heels of another brutal incident in Bokkos LGA just two weeks prior, where scores were also killed, raising fresh concerns about the deteriorating security situation across the state.
While acknowledging the limitations of existing efforts, the governor urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting security efforts through community intelligence and self-protection measures.
“We must not give up,” he said, as he appealed for unity and resilience.
As part of his visit, the governor also met with several families who lost loved ones in the attack, offering words of comfort and solidarity.
The paramount ruler of Irigwe land, Ronku Aka, used the occasion to call on the state government to take further steps in supporting affected communities, particularly by addressing long-standing infrastructural deficits.
He called for the provision of social amenities as a way of rebuilding lives and restoring hope.
The violence in Plateau continues to raise questions about the effectiveness of current security frameworks, even as state officials work to reassure citizens of ongoing efforts to address the crisis.
