Fresh Horror in Plateau: Three Killed in Te'ebbe as Attacks Persist Despite Peace Efforts
Jos, Plateau State – The grim reality of Plateau State's enduring security crisis was starkly underscored on Monday, June 23, 2025, when a "fresh attack" in the Te'ebbe community of Bassa Local Government Area claimed the lives of three members of a single family. Two others sustained injuries in the brutal assault.
The victims, all farmers, were tragically ambushed while harvesting tomatoes on their farm in the Miango district. This latest incident sends a chilling message of the audacious nature of the assailants, occurring even as a high-powered fact-finding committee, established by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, was reportedly in the very vicinity investigating the protracted crisis in the state.
A Community Under Siege: Bassa's Persistent Nightmare
The Bassa Local Government Area, particularly the Miango district, remains a consistent flashpoint in Plateau State's violent landscape. This region is predominantly inhabited by the Irigwe ethnic group, who are primarily farmers, and has been the scene of relentless clashes, largely attributed to suspected Fulani militias or armed bandits.
The recurring violence in this area is fueled by a complex cocktail of factors:
* Land Disputes: Competition over shrinking farmlands and traditional grazing routes remains a core driver of conflict. Incidents of cattle destroying crops frequently escalate into deadly confrontations between the Irigwe farmers and nomadic Fulani herders.
* Identity Politics: The entrenched "indigene-settler" divide is acutely pronounced in Bassa. The Irigwe often accuse the Fulani, despite generations of residence, of attempting to displace them from their ancestral lands.
* Cycles of Revenge: A deeply entrenched cycle of violence persists, where each attack, whether by one group or the other, ignites retaliatory actions, making peace and reconciliation an uphill battle.
* Security Gaps and Impunity: Despite military and police deployments, communities in Bassa frequently lament what they describe as an inadequate and often delayed response from security forces. This perceived failure to protect citizens and bring perpetrators to justice contributes significantly to the ongoing impunity enjoyed by armed groups. The timing of the Te'ebbe attack, during a high-profile government committee's visit, tragically highlights this persistent security vacuum.
Broader Context: Plateau's Mounting Death Toll
The Te'ebbe tragedy is but one in a series of devastating attacks that continue to plague Plateau State. Recent reports paint a grim picture:
* Just days prior, on June 21, 2025, 12 wedding travelers from Basawa community in Zaria, Kaduna State, were brutally killed in an ambush in Mangu Local Government Area.
* Other incidents in the past week (leading up to June 23) saw at least 21 people killed, including a Christian Fulani hunter, across various districts in the state.
* Data from human rights groups, such as the International Christian Concern (ICC), indicate that at least 120 Christians have been killed in Plateau state alone since January 2025.
* Longer-term statistics are even more harrowing: the Irigwe Youth Movement (IYM) reports that the Irigwe ethnic group has suffered over 2,866 attacks, at least 1,107 deaths, and the destruction of over 27,000 farms since the violence began in 2001 in their communities. Studies suggest that the aggression between Fulani herders and host communities across Plateau State has claimed thousands of lives and displaced more than 62,000 people from various communities.
The Te'ebbe attack serves as another poignant reminder of the daily dangers faced by residents of Plateau State, particularly those engaged in farming. It underscores the urgent and pressing need for more effective and sustained security interventions, coupled with comprehensive efforts towards peacebuilding and justice to break the relentless cycle of violence in the region.
