Hundreds of residents from Zurak and Sabon Gari communities in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State have abandoned their homes following a fresh wave of deadly terrorist attacks that have heightened fear and insecurity across the area.
The displacement was triggered by two separate incidents on Monday, during which gunmen riding motorcycles killed a soldier and five civilians in Zurak community. In a related development, three soldiers reportedly went missing after the attackers targeted security posts before advancing into residential areas.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the assailants burned several houses and shops, looted food items, valuables, and other property, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
A resident of Wase, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, painted a grim picture of the prevailing atmosphere of fear and helplessness.
“We understand that they [security forces] are doing their best, but the terrorists often come in large numbers and overpower the security,” the resident said.
“Our lives are not guaranteed. People cannot continue to live in fear all the time. When law and order are restored, we will return.”
The latest attacks form part of a persistent pattern of violence, terrorism, and kidnappings that has plagued Wase Local Government Area for months. In December 2025, gunmen abducted 28 travelers from the Zak community in the same LGA, an incident that further eroded public confidence in the ability of security agencies to provide adequate protection.
Many displaced persons have sought refuge in neighbouring communities or with relatives, while others continue to live in uncertainty, hoping for the swift restoration of peace and normalcy.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the newly appointed Commissioner of Police for Plateau State, CP Bassey Ewah, has pledged to work tirelessly to make the state safer. He assured residents of closer collaboration with other security agencies, including the military, Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilante groups, to confront the threat head-on and restore confidence among the people.
The renewed violence in Wase LGA has once again drawn attention to the broader security challenges facing rural and semi-rural communities in Nigeria’s North Central region, where banditry, terrorism, and communal clashes continue to displace thousands and claim lives on a regular basis.
Local leaders and civil society groups have called for urgent reinforcement of security deployments, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained presence of security forces in vulnerable areas to prevent further attacks and enable displaced residents to return home safely.
As search efforts continue for the missing soldiers and communities remain on high alert, residents of Wase LGA are appealing for decisive and coordinated action from both state and federal authorities to bring an end to the cycle of fear, violence, and displacement that has gripped the area.
