• Insecurity in state beyond farmer-herder clashes – Muftwang
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered security agencies to hunt down those responsible for the brutal attacks on several villages in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, which left more than 52 people dead and dozens of homes and food stores destroyed.
In a strong condemnation of the massacre, which occurred Wednesday night across Ruwi, Mangor, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai communities, the President described the killings as unacceptable and vowed that the attackers would face severe punishment once apprehended.
According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed deep sorrow over what he called “another violent attack” on defenceless citizens, warning that such “mindless” violence has no place in Nigeria, especially at a time when the country is intensifying efforts to restore peace and order nationwide.
He assured that the government would not be deterred in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property, emphasising that these tragic incidents would only strengthen his administration’s resolve to defeat those he described as “forces of evil.”
The President extended his condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected by the incident.
He urged communities to remain calm and resist any urge for retaliation, stressing the need for unity across ethnic, religious, and political lines in the collective pursuit of peace.
“No community should have to endure such tragedy,” Tinubu stated, calling on all Nigerians to embrace their shared humanity and stand together against violence in any form.
The President said “the report of another violent attack in communities in Plateau State by mindless gunmen saddens me. The latest attacks on defenceless citizens are unacceptable.
“I have directed security agencies to hunt down the attackers, and they will face severe punishment when apprehended.
“These intermittent attacks should have no place in our country at a time when we are working so hard to restore peace and order in all parts of our country.
“This unfortunate incident will never dampen and slow us down in our duty to protect every Nigerian citizen. Instead, we will work harder to exterminate forces of evil wherever they are lurking in our country.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families and all those affected by this senseless violence. No community should have to endure such tragedy. We all must unite to foster peace and stability.
“I urge all citizens—regardless of ethnic, religious, or political affiliations—to uphold the shared humanity that binds us all, embrace peace and reject retaliation”, he said.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang has described the ongoing attacks and killings in some parts of the state as a coordinated crime sponsored by conflict merchants and not farmer-herder clashes.
The governor said this during the Fashion and Arts Exhibition organised by the Tincity Fashion Week titled ‘The Plateau Experience’, on Friday night in Abuja.
Mutfwang, who insisted that the attacks were well organised criminality, promised that the government and security agencies had put measures in place to forestall future occurrence.
“I want to thank all of you who are here to support and honour Plateau with your presence in this event. We do not take this show of solidarity lightly.
“We contemplated suspending this event due to the current security situation in the state, but we decided not to allow the situation ruin the good things we have to celebrate.
“And I must say that the aim of the enemy is to throw the state into gloom and mourning but we will rise above their intent and not give them what they want.
“For those who think that the current situation is a farmer-herder issue, let me disabuse your mind from that perception; it is a product of organised crime by malicious elements who do not want peace to reign in the state.
“I want to assure the good people of Plateau that God will give us victory over these miscreants and their end has come” he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, says he will meet with President Bola Tinubu over the killings in Plateau State.
Abbas, who also said yesterday that the House would convene a security summit over insecurity in the country, added that the Plateau killings were intolerable.
“Enough is enough,” he said in a statement hours after Governor Caleb Mutfwang held an emergency security meeting with security chiefs in the state over Tuesday’s attack in Mangu Local Government Area.
Police confirmed that 10 people were killed, two injured and 10 houses burnt in the latest attack on Kwahaslalek village.
The attack happened a few hours after Mutfwang imposed a 24-hour curfew on Mangu council to prevent further loss of lives.
Abbas said in his statement that the House would kick-start plans for the security submit on resumption from its break next week.
His words: “Just this week, attacks were reported in Mangu where scores of people were killed. The latest incident led the Plateau government to impose a 24-hour curfew in the area.
“I am deeply saddened by the continuous killings in Plateau. It is unfortunate and disheartening that this is happening at this time when efforts are on to tackle insecurity around the country.
“I call on the people of Plateau to live in peace with one another as they were known for years back. We cannot continue like this as a people.
“Our Creator, in His wisdom, brought us together for a reason, and we must continue to appreciate our differences and form a common front to tackle our collective challenges instead of killing ourselves. This path will only take us backwards.”
The Speaker urged security agencies to take decisive action to arrest the situation in Plateau.
In Jos, the Plateau State capital, Mutfwang said in a statement by his spokesman, Gyang Bere, that his administration’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of his people was unwavering.
He pledged to pursue justice for citizens affected by the recent incidents.
Mutfwang flayed the security breach in the Kwahaslalek community and other parts of Mangu LGA.
He said relatives of those killed must know that their deaths would not be in vain.
The governor said this in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA), Gyang Bere.
Mutfwang had earlier condoled the affected families and advised residents of the affected communities to remain vigilant.
Warning that his administration would not tolerate any further breakdown of law and order in any part of the state, he called on security agencies to intensify efforts toward the return of total peace in the state.
17 persons arrested
The Police said they arrested eight of the suspects in connection with the December 24 attack that left nearly 100 dead in three councils and nine others for their involvement in the Tuesday massacre in Mangu LGA.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 4, Ebong Eyibio, gave the figure while parading the arrested persons before reporters in Jos yesterday.
Eyibio, who was represented by the spokesman for the state Police command, Alfred Alabo, clarified that 10 people were killed, two injured and 10 houses burnt in the attack on Tuesday.
The bodies of the 10, according to him, were recovered from “various locations” in the council.
Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), a socio-cultural group in the council, had said that 30 persons were killed a few hours after Mutfwang imposed a 24-hour curfew on the council.
Eyibio also said the police on Tuesday prevented another attack on some communities in the LGA and an “attempt by some criminal arsonists in Panyam District to set fire on some worship centres.”
He added that security agencies have been strengthened in the troubled council to ensure compliance with the curfew and prevent the incidents from assuming ethnic and religious dimensions.
His words: ” I have ordered the deployment of additional Special Intervention personnel in Mangu LGA to restore normalcy there.
“We hereby inform you that the situation as of today is under control and so far, nine suspects have been arrested. Exhibits recovered from them include dangerous weapons, such as machetes, kegs containing petrol, and other items.
“So far, over 10 corpses have been recovered from various locations, two injured persons currently receiving treatment at the hospital, one car and 10 houses were burnt down.
Super Eagles captain Musa appeals for peace
Super Eagles Captain Ahmed Musa has appealed for peace in the state.
Musa, who is in Côte d’Ivoire for the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON), said on his X handle that Nigerians should live in peace.
He wrote: “Dear Plateau Family and Nigerians as a whole, our state is hurting, and we need to come together. The fights, the killings– it’s too much.
“We are all one big family, no matter our religion. Most families in Plateau have both Christians and Muslims.
“We should be celebrating our differences, not fighting because of them.
Also, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) condemned the latest Plateau crisis, saying that six mosques and two churches have been burnt.
Executive Director of the group Ishaq Akintola said the burnt mosques include a central mosque and Anguwan Dawo Jumat Mosque.
The two burnt churches, according to him, Deden and Assemblies of God’s Church are located in Sabon-Kasuwa in the Dercom and Alogom areas of Mangu.
MURIC charged security agencies to be fair to all by not allowing the crisis to escalate beyond imagination.
Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagun also condoled the government and people of the state.
Damagun spoke when he visited Mutfwang to sympathise with him over the killings in the state and congratulate him on his Supreme Court electoral victory.
“We came here for two reasons: To mourn with you and the good people of Plateau State over the pains you have suffered due to insecurity and to congratulate you on your victory at the Supreme Court. I pray that God will use you to bring back the sweet memories of the past good days of Plateau State,” he said.
The governor thanked the National Working Committee of the PDP for their support.
He said the claims of lack of structure within PDP in the state have been addressed by the Supreme Court.
Bloodbath has come to define four areas of besieged Plateau State since 2001. And for the state’s beleaguered inhabitants, there has been no respite despite various interventions including, the Justice Nikki Tobi Commission report, introduction of vigilante group tagged ‘The rainbow Boys’, the Plateau House of Assembly anti-land grabbing, kidnapping bills, that the people had hoped would return land to their owners while the herdsmen return to where they came from, and “Operation Save Haven” (OPSH) and its successors. Instead of relief, what came in form of dividends to the state denizens as at July 2023, was a harvest of thousands deaths,18,751 displaced persons and annexation of about 102 villages by mostly immigrant Fulani herders. Two Saturdays ago, there was an additional harvest of 200 deaths in the Mangu LGA of the state.
Concerned Nigerians including military commanders involved in efforts at bringing peace between warring tribal Plateau groups and Hausa/Fulani settlers believe the orgy of killing and confiscation of community land has continued precisely because critical stakeholders and governments culturally and constitutionally equipped to mediate have perfected the art of ‘playing the ostrich’. The emirs made up of predominantly Fulani extraction that constitute the northern hegemonic ruling caste, the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), the Northern Elders Forum, (NEF) – an amalgam of Fulani and leaders of minority groups integrated into power through politics, business or marriage and the clerics (Muslim and Christian) seem to think that by ignoring the problem or believing they do not exist, it will disappear.
The powerful and influential emirs continued to live in denial long after the World Terrorism Index declared Fulani herdsmen as the ‘fourth most violent terrorist group in the world’ and Sheik Gumi has identified those who lay siege on Nigeria as ‘disgruntled marginalized Fulani herdsmen seeking government recognition and compensation’ just as Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Aminu Masari of Katsina and Nasir el Rufai of Kaduna who descried them as ‘Fulani immigrants without fathers who should be bombed for unleashing terror on Nigerians’. With the exception of Emir of Muri, Abbas Tafida who broke rank by issuing a 30-day ultimatum directing Fulani herdsmen to vacate his state forest for ‘terrorising residents of the state, kidnapping, killing and raping his subjects’, other powerful emirs including those who owned up to being patrons of Fulani herdsmen continued to live in denial.
Very few stakeholders are prepared to call the herders by their proper name-terrorists. Even the fearless and often outspoken Bishop Mathew Kukah while reacting last week to their latest mindless killings went metaphorical by speaking of ‘the invisible men’, ‘the children of darkness, sons of Satan’; ‘killers and harbinger of sorrow and pain’.
I think Bishop Kukah should be reminded that playing the ostrich or refusal to call a spade a spade was the answer to his questions as to why “the north has become the birthplace of so much bloodletting”; Why killings are seen as tools of negotiation with the Nigerian state by the protectors of ethnic interest and why the north has become ‘the incubator of all that is destructive-Boko Haram, banditry and shades of terrorism”.
And when it comes to playing the ostrich, members of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) are the most pathetic. Bauchi’s Bala Mohammed, a non-Fulani not only defended illegal bearing of arms by immigrant herdsmen; he declared without restraint that all Fulani from any part of Africa have the right to Nigerian citizenship. And it cannot be any less bizarre when even the governors of besieged north-central states of Plateau, Benue, Taraba and Adamawa held a press conference last week where they appealed to the federal government to find out the motive of those who have turned the Middle Belt into a killing field.
With over 61 communities confiscated and renamed by invaders as early as 2010, with the figure today put at 102 while survivors were condemned to IDP camps where they face hunger, diseases and uncertain future, how can these hypocritical governors continue to play the ostrich by pretending not to know the battle for the Middle Belt region by immigrants driven by climate change and drying up of Lake Chad was battle over land? These clueless governors who have no idea of those who live within their states would rather play the ostrich than follow the example of the Southwest that inaugurated the “Amotekun’ security outfit, successfully deployed to check the menace of criminal herdsmen and their local criminal collaborators visiting deaths on the people of southwest.
Because playing the ostrich became an art for the Buhari’s administration, for eight years his government did everything except finding solution to mindless killings in Plateau. It has also now become apparent that little has changed under President Bola Tinubu.
First, experts have recommended institutionalisation of state and community policing as part of resolving social dislocations in Plateau and elsewhere in the Middle Belt region. President Buhari and “his loyal gate keepers” resisted this for eight years. Nigerians don’t think President Tinubu needed a year to start the process.
Recruiting members of the state and community police from among the warring people guarantees a balance of terror which experts believe will discourage warlords from seeking external help in resolving local problem that requires dialogue.
For eight years, the various military strategies including kinetic and non-kinetic adopted by President Buhari failed because he was playing the ostrich instead of addressing the issue of distributive justice. Tinubu cannot adopt the same strategy and expect a different result.
The military as custodians of the nation’s constitution has no reason to look at the body language of temporary office holders to perform its constitutional duty. Its objective should be distributive justice. The challenge in Plateau is that a group of those already identified by credible Fulani voices among us as violent foreign Fulani immigrant herdsmen are waging war on our fellow compatriots. They killed maimed and confiscated communities and condemned survivors to IDP camps.
Distributive justice requires these invaders to be first flushed out by our military, those in IDP camps resettled back in their homes and be provided with security to enable them carry on with struggle for survival.
Anything short of this will not be different from Europe and America arming and encouraging Israel to visit terror on their Palestinian cousins already condemned to refugee camps.
Of course it will also not be distributive justice to dismiss the legitimate struggles for self-determination, control over land resources and chieftaincy affairs by our Muslim Hausa/Fulani compatriots who claimed their forefathers first settled in Plateau around late 18th century but today regarded as “settlers” and “usurpers.”
The politically sophisticated Fulani emirs and leaders have managed peaceful coexistence among disparage groups in the north for close to 200 years by ensuring distributive justice. For them, leadership itself presupposes responsibility. That perhaps explains Uthman dan Fodio’s famous quotation “Conscience is an open wound only truth can heal”.
The enemies today are those who play the ostrich or live in denial at the expense of distributive justice.
The reported Christmas Eve mass murder in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi in Plateau State is not media hype, neither was it a an orchestrated social media fake news. It is real, and the death toll is bizarre and staggering as over 200 people were said to have been killed. The siege to the communities was unprecedented like a scorched earth, with houses burnt and people displaced. Mothers carrying babies on their back were hacked to death, leaving the babies still tied on their backs crying. Women, children and defenceless men were ruthlessly butchered in cold blood. The attackers made good their escape leaving trails of blood, tears, agony and misery to the living.
We are not sure how long the whole operation lasted but one thing is sure; there was a dereliction of duty by both federal and state agencies whose duties it is to secure life and property. This is one attack too many on the Plateau. This should not be happening where we have a police force and other security agencies.
We have to move away from the platitude of knee-jerk response that the criminals will be fished out and brought to book; we do not have the luxury of time for that fishing expedition, and Nigerians are tired of that book that is never made public after every such killing. This is the time that the government should act decisively and stamp its authority before we surrendered the state and liberty of citizens to a marauding band of criminals. The alternative is that the people will take laws into their hands and anarchy will reign supreme, and this is not a good choice either. We are told that the assassins and merchants of death came in droves fully armed and launched coordinated attacks in about three local government areas simultaneously.
We also hear that they are occupying some communities and have converted some primary schools to their abode. The pertinent question therefore is where is the intelligence community in all this? Is it that those parts of the state are ungovernable no-man’s-land and ceded to criminals without government presence? Where were the ubiquitous security agencies during the attack? The Christmas Eve killings in Plateau State speak to the pervasive state of insecurity in the country in its stark reality. We are all living under the shadow of death; school children are abducted from their classrooms and hostels and taken into captivity for years and never again to be reunited with their families and loved ones. Some are married off we are told; young youth corps members on their journey for orientation for national service were kidnapped on the road and are still in captivity months after. Female students from tertiary institutions are kidnapped and held in captivity by the same band of criminals demanding for ransom and the nation continue with business as usual. Are we really alright as a people? Is our head paining us?
One is beginning to wonder if our leaders ever see this as threat to national security. Our politicians continue to fight for power and perks of office but care less about the welfare and security of citizens. People assume wrongly that they are in government and public offices for self, defence of faith, religion and ethnic nationalities. Sadly, this same mentality is gaining traction in the security services and paramilitary organizations, which was not the case in the past. The National Assembly in reaction to the Plateau killings summoned the Service Chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to appear before it; to do what, one might ask? The ritual of inviting security chiefs to the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly every time there was national security disaster does not provide answers or solution to the security problems in the least; certainly not to the mass murder in Plateau State or elsewhere; it is a needless distraction.
The security chiefs have a huge work to do and the ceremonial summons to the National Assembly to answer query in the face of dire emergency security situation should be the least. Similar thing happened not too long ago when the National Assembly summoned late Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, then Chief of Army Staff, a man who knew his onions while investigating defence procurements. They tried to bully him dangling the office they occupy as representatives of the people and the man told them off point blank that he was equally representing every community in Nigeria and he had operational visits to undertake in different theatres more important than the needless distraction of their summons.
Now kidnappers are running amok even in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja the seat of power operating with brazen temerity. What is to be done! The President and Commander-in-Chief should unequivocally give clear matching orders to the security chiefs to bring maximum force to bear and engage the criminals terrorizing the country. We should resist the temptation to dialogue with bandits and kidnappers and other criminal elements terrorizing the country. Those calling for dialogue with bandits, insurgents and other criminals are complicit. The state should go after them with fire and brimstone. Dialogue with merchants of death and criminals is a signal of a failed state.
To solve the killings in Plateau State and other criminal activities across the country, we must first properly identify those behind it. One does not share the sentiment and labelling of ‘Fulani herdsmen’ as the attackers; it is unfair branding because the herdsmen we know do not carry high calibre weapons, unless these are “political herdsmen”. The itinerant herdsmen are the people we see daily with their herds of cattle roving and foraging for grass. The criminals sacking villages, collecting taxes, kidnapping people for ransom are fully armed with automatic rifles; they are not grazers. Just the same way we are told that it is “unknown gunmen” that are running riot in the Southeast; what is the meaning of that? A criminal is a criminal and should be treated as such; we should stop dressing crimes in tribal and religious gown. We should stop the culture of stigmatizing and stereotyping ethnic nationalities. The moment you start giving religious and tribal toga to criminals, they find solace and embrace in ethnic solidarity.
It is hard to accept the fact that security has improved; not with recent killings in Plateau State. Not even with the report of the attacks and killing again a few days ago at Chibok that is still reeling from the unsolved kidnapping of school girls in their scores. Not the wholesale abduction of travellers on the highways almost on daily basis. Not the nightmare that Abuja has also become lately from “one chance” traffic criminals operating in cabs, and random kidnappings and killings.
We expect the security forces and intelligence agencies to go after those killers in Plateau State wherever they may be hiding. No more excuses for failure! We are talking about the same intelligence agencies that could sniff the whiff of currency notes in the bed chambers of judges and yet cannot locate criminals carrying and brandishing weapons and sacking communities and collecting taxes. Communities must also be vigilant and give timely information to the security agencies on suspicious movements of strangers in their midst. The military has to bring overwhelming force on these criminals, terrorists and cartels behind them; a soldier does not dialogue with outlaws, and rehabilitation of criminals is not his business. Soldiering is not a seminary to recruit priest and tribal faithful. A soldier should only observe faith as a matter of constitutional right but not as fanatic to protect religious credo and dogma or to be an ethnic irredentist.
On the needless controversy that Nigerians should not be allowed to bear fire arms credited to the Chief of Army Staff, he cannot be correct on that score. It is a settled law under the Fire Arms Act that qualified Nigerians have the right to licence to bear firearm after being screened by the Police. After all, criminals carry weapons up and down to harass and kill citizens and the constitutions also provide the right to self-defence and it is a fundamental right. What will the citizen use to defend himself when under attack if he does not bear arms legitimately? Does he throw bread and chocolate to bandits in self-defence?
Sen. Diket Plang (APC-Plateau Central) has applauded President Bola Tinubu’s swift reaction to the attacks on some Plateau communities, where scores of people were killed, many injured and properties destroyed.
It would be recalled that over 200 people were killed in 15 communities across Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas on Christmas Eve.
Plang, who gave the commendation while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Jos, said that the president’s reaction was unprecedented and different from what it used to be.
The lawmaker stated that when the attacks occurred on the eve of Christmas, within 24 hours, a very powerful delegation was in Bokkos to assess the situation and also console the victims.
“The Vice President came with the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff and some top security chiefs, including the National Security Adviser to the President.
“They were there with some governors, former governors, serving senators, and House of Representatives members before they went back to conclude the 2024 budget.
“And you could hear the passionate commitment of the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima; you could see the condemnation of what has happened.
“Subsequently, the Inspector General of Police was on site and he promised to go into another system of intelligence gathering and also establish a different model of policing the crisis place.
“You could hear the North Central governors talking about coming together for the issue of Plateau when it happened, and it became a Nigerian issue,’’ he said.
Plang said that reactions and efforts have given the people a sense of belonging, and he added that the people were calm and hopeful that such a dastardly act would not happen again.
According to him, the people’s trust in government has increased because when it happens and the government is close, it gives you hope.
He recalled that when the Mangu attacks first occurred, the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) and other service chiefs went to the area.
Diket stated that COAS was physically training the personnel himself, adding that such action was a demonstration of concern that the government is sensitive to issues affecting Nigerians that have to do with life.
“I raised a motion in the National Assembly concerning these attacks and there were several prayers that I made; all the prayers were answered.
“An additional prayer was added by Sen. Adams Oshiomole, that the service chiefs should even appear before the Senate.
“They should appear and report what they are doing about the insecurity on the Plateau. I believe and my people believe too, that our cry has reached heaven, and that’s why these responses are the way they are.
“I want us to trust this new administration of President Tinubu. You can see his wife; she was around on the Plateau with a lot of people to lend their support to the victims,’’ he said.
• Survivors of carnage relive ordeal • ’How my two hands were cut off in process of self defence’ • My entire 21 relatives were wiped out, says victim
Heaps of lifeless bodies and injured victims are the pathetic sights that confront a visitor to the scenes of the victims gathered by the search and rescue team set up by the communities attacked by gunmen in Plateau State. Many of the bodies of the about 140 victims of the ugly incident were those of innocent children.
“The children were too innocent to be attacked by anyone for any reason. The only reason to kill such innocent children in a war situation is if genocide was the target of the attackers. So there is no doubt that the killings were purely genocide,” said Joshua Mangut in Bokkos.
Instead of the merriment, bliss and exchange of love that usually characterises Christmas and the Yuletide, many Plateau communities including Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat and Butura Kampani are left to agonise over the death of their loved ones.
Usually, from the 24th of December in such Christian communities, the mostly Christian families would have gathered all the foodstuffs and drinks they would need for the celebration of Christmas. This time, however, they were denied the opportunity to enjoy all that they had prepared for themselves.
As the people were about to go to bed in the hope of waking up to another Christmas day, the gunmen struck.
One of the victims, a 65-year-old housewife named Rebecca Maska, said: “We were in the house in Darunwat, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, preparing to celebrate Christmas.
“We had finished frying our meat and I started washing the rice and had parboiled it to make my cooking the next morning faster.
“After that, I set out to have a bath before going to bed. When I had finished bathing, I entered the room to dress up. Then I heard the sound of gunshots that moved rapidly close to the church.
“One of our little sons told me that we should get out and run. We ran into the next compound, which was a traditional ruler’s house, to hide there.
“Before we knew what was happening, the Fulani marauders had gained entry into the palace. We escaped through the back door and headed into the bush. We then hide in a place close to a river.
“Before I realised was happening, a marauder behind me greeted in Fulani and shot me in the thigh. I shouted and fell down, and was left in a pool of blood while my children fled in different directions.
“At that time, I could not stand up, and there was nobody to help me. I was there for more than three hours. That was when my son called the soldiers and told them that her mother was in the bush.
“That was when the soldiers came to my rescue and rushed me to a nearby hospital in Barkin Ladi where I was revived. But the bone is fractured.”
But many other victims in Darunwat were not as lucky as Rebecca as 17 of the villagers were killed in cold blood and were eventually buried in a mass grave on Christmas day.
One of the villagers, Silas Malang, said: “Mourning and burying loved ones on a Christmas day is the most painful experience in my life. My family had prepared a meal for the next day, but we never ate the meal.
“When the gunmen struck, we spent the night in the bush, and from our hidden place we keep hearing sounds of gunshots till dawn. It was a war we never prepared for.
“By the time we returned home from the bush, the house we left behind was already in ruin, including our Christmas meal. Now we are in an IDP camp.”
Freedom Alfred, a 12-year-old boy seen at the IDP camp in Bokkos, said amid tears: “I heard the sound of gunshots and was hiding to escape been killed.
“In the process, one of the tall Fulani marauders shot me in the arm. I started pleading with them not to kill me, but they did not heed my plea as they continued to beat me and wanted to machete me.
“I fell down and pretended to be dead. Then they abandoned me and left.”
Another survivor, a 34-year-old from Barkin Ladi, Mascan Nanpan, told The Nation that the gunmen that invaded the communities were more than 500.
Nanpan said: “Those that surrounded our village alone were more than 200, and it was difficult to escape. It was God that saved me.
“I sat down and later decided to enter the room and locked myself in. On arrival, they forced the door open.
“Immediately, they entered and called my name, and asked if I’m the one that work in so and so place. I pleaded with them that I was sick. The next thing they did was to machete me and vowed that I must die.
“On lifting the cutlass up and trying to cut my neck, in self defence I raised my right hand and it was cut off. Still in the process of defending, they cut off the second hand too.
“They also broke my two legs, and I pretended as if I was dead.
“Still not satisfied, they inflicted cuts on every part of my body until they felt that I was dead. Then they set the bed ablaze.
“When they saw that I still did not move, they concluded that the bastard was dead.
“I can recognise two of them. But three of them came to carry out the operation. The two are well known faces.”
A 45-year-old Febi Moses Chirang, who is the only survivor from his family, told The Nation that he lost 23 members of his family during the attacks.
He said: “Most of the victims are the aged and children who were too weak to run. We saw them with guns, tall and light complexioned.
“They came from the top hill of Josho. At the time I saw them, I came out from the house to pick firewood. When I saw them, I quickly called the attention of our father that some strange faces were descending from the hill top of Josho.
“Then our father saw them. But before they knew what their mission was, the Fulani marauders had started shooting. They went straight to where the women and children were hiding and killed 21 of them. Some injured ones are being hospitalised in Bokkos and JUTH. All my relatives have been wiped out; about 21 of them.
“Nobody knows the mission of the attackers. Our home has been destroyed and we are now in a camp.
A more chilling experience was narrated by an expectant mother, Mrs Ruth Bulus, who lost her two children and husband and now lives in an IDP camp.
She said: “When the killers entered our compound there was confusion and everyone was running for their lives.
“My husband and I ran in different directions. It was needless to wait for anything.
“The next day, I was told they saw my husband’s corpse in the bush, and later I heard that they saw my children’s massacred bodies.
“Our house was completely burnt down. We could not remove a pin from it.
“I don’t know where to return to after this camp.”
Cases of displaced expectant and nursing mothers are many at the IDP camps. It was such situation that moved the Vice President, Ibrahim Shettima, to apologise over the failure of federal government to protect the victims from attacks.
Shettima also said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was deeply saddened by the tragedy and shared in “this unspeakable sorrows that have shattered the joy of Christmas across the country.”
He said: “When one community bleeds, the entire country feels the pains.
“The pains we feel now transcend ethnicity and religion, geography or politics. Each of us here knows the pains of losing one or two loved ones.
“Burying a member of a family is rear experience and indescribable nightmare.
“We cannot really assuage your pains. What has happened to you is a funeral to the entire nation.
“Our hearts bleed along yours my dear brothers and sisters from Bokkos and Barkin Ladi.”
The VP added: “We came to power promising to uphold the sanctity of everyone’s life, and now is to assure you that these inter-community violence that has persisted on the Plateau for the past decade will never persist under our watch. We will harness all our resources to bring those responsible to justice.
“We will not rest untill we are able to prevent the recurrences of this heinous acts.
“Your blood and your tears stain our collective conscience. Why it may seemed that we have failed you in your time of need, while it may seemed that you are all alone, I assure you that this government, especially president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is here to protect you.
“This government is here to deliver justice. We believe that justice is our collective foundation for our unity and our healing.
“Our dear brothers and sisters in Plateau State, we appeal to you to resist the temptation to succumb to the poisonous rethorics of hatred towards your fellow citizens as we pursue justice and ensure your security.
“These violence persist due to the dangerous practice of testing criminals as ambassadors of their groups, and where the law is taking into their hands where protection fails.
“This is not the case now. This is a solemn promise I’m making on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Please accept our condolences. Please accept our deepest apologies, because we won’t rest until you access justice and until you accept it.”
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has condemned the invasion of five communities and the killings of over 70 persons by unknown gunmen in Gashish and Ropp Districts of Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas of Plateau State.
Leader of the caucus, Hon Kingsley Chinda, in a statement on Thursday, said the unfortunate incident has raised national and global concerns about the security of persons in Nigeria, particularly, the North Central, and the murders that have gone for too long on the Plateau.
This was as the caucus accused the political leadership of unwillingness to nip the violence in Plateau in the bud.
The caucus said it was sinister that warning of impending attacks are unheeded by security agencies.
According to the statement, if the accounts of witnesses are to be believed, “what stands clear is the act of collusion and conspiracy in the bloodletting.”
Chinda regretted that these murders, which have become the cyclical outcomes of inter-communal violence in Plateau State, show how grievances between communities can be turned into organised violence by unidentified groups and persons who use violent methods to address perceived differences.
The statement reads, “When Jos was turned into an infernal theatre and a killing field in which one thousand people lost their lives in 2001, many thought that the violent expressions of differences had reached the zenith; but, unfortunately, more attacks followed in Jos, Wase, Langtang North, Langtang South, Shendam, Mikang, Qua’an Pan, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom, resulting in many deaths and the destruction of properties.
“The reasons adduced by observers for the sad state of affairs which ranged from internecine fights between indigenes and settlers for natural resources to inter-ethnic rivalry ensuing between ethnic groups *no longer appear plausible, in view of the increasing rates of attacks, sophistication of invasions of communities, and the anonymity of the perpetrators of the attacks. There is something about this anonymity which makes the murders of the Plateau sinister.
“What is more sinister is that warning of impending attacks are unheeded by security agencies, coupled with the apparent unwillingness of the political leadership to arrest perpetrators and nip the violence in Plateau State in the bud. If the accounts of witnesses are to be believed, what stands clear is the act of collusion and conspiracy in the bloodletting.
“The murders on the Plateau have gone on for too long and must be stopped now! We extend our condolences to the Government and People of Plateau State over the murders.
“While we appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of our Military and other Security Agencies thus far, we call on and encourage them to commit more and be unrelenting in tackling the crisis until victory is assured for all.
“We also urge NASS Security Committees to draw strength from sections 4, 88 and 89 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, to commence a proper and detailed investigation into the persistent murders and profer legislative solutions to end same.”
The Northern Caucus of the House of Representatives has condemned the gruesome and barbaric murder of citizens in 23 villages across Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas of Plateau state on Christmas Day eve.
Chairman, Northern Caucus of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who said the news of the unfortunate incident was received with a broken heart, called for a thorough probe.
Ado-Doguwa in a statement commiserated with the Government and good people of Plateau state.
He described the killings as most barbaric, senseless and vicious acts that should not find its place in our society.
“These barbaric acts should not and has never been a representation of what the northern part of this country is known for. We are known for being accommodating and respecter of individual differences along religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic spectra and as such these incident is devoid of reason, indefensible and a reproach on our humanity.
“From media reportage putting the figure of the casualties in the coordinated attacks to over 150 and the outrage that have since trailed it, we join the rest of Nigerians to demand for a thorough and well intentioned fact finding on the direct and remote cause(s) of these senseless killings that have put our region in the bad light of national discuss again.
“We believe that only a thorough fact finding mission with a commitment to punishing all those that played direct or indirect roles in this massacre as well as other pockets of killings that have been taking place in the state in the last few weeks as reported in the media will lead to a lasting peace in the Plateau region, which has now become renowned for attacks and reprisal attacks especially among farming communities and the pastoralists.
“We call on governments at both state and federal level and all security agencies to ensure justice is served in this matter by bringing all the perpetrators to book and finding lasting solution to these recurring criminality in Plateau and other parts of Northern Nigeria.
“We also call on the governments and good spirited organisations and individuals to come to the aid of all those injured and displaced in this attack. In our capacity as lawmakers, we will play our parts with vigour to support institutions and individuals in their roles to ensuring lasting peace in our region. We must reiterate as a people that ‘never again’ will we allow these to happen in our locality and we must all vow to play our parts in ensuring the sanctity of human lives are protected.”
The scale of the horrendous attacks on communities in Plateau State became clearer yesterday with police giving the figure of casualties at 96 dead and hundreds injured.
But the chairmen of the two local governments where the dastardly act took place said 155 people were killed with over a thousand injured.
The figures may rise, according to the chairmen, because villagers are combing the bushes for bodies of those who might have been killed while trying to escape.
According to them, many people are missing.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday ordered security agents to fish out the killers and vowed that when apprehended, they would not be spared.
The president spoke when he received governors, who visited him under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by its chairman, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq.
Condemnations and anger trailed the mindless killings.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), senators, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Northern Elders Forum (NEF) flayed the attacks.
On Sunday, Governor Muftwang said 50 people died after the attacks, but police said yesterday that the casualty figure had risen to 96.
Chairmen of the two councils, Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State – Monday Kassa and Danjuma Dakil – put the number of the dead at 155, adding that 1,000 persons were injured.
Kassa told The Nation that his kinsmen were as of yesterday in the bushes searching for their missing relatives.
The Police also said that 221 houses and several vehicles and motorcycles were burnt by the marauders.
President Tinubu, according to a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, described the situation as “heinous and brutal”.
The statement said: “Nigeria needs peace and stability to move forward. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we have to take care of it.
“President Bola Tinubu strongly condemns the heinous and brutal attacks in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, which resulted in the tragic loss of many lives.
“President Tinubu directs security agencies to immediately move in, scour every stretch of the zone, and apprehend the culprits.
“The President also directs immediate mobilisation of relief resources for surviving victims of the primitive and cruel attacks as well as medical treatment for the wounded.
“While condoling with the government and the people of Plateau State, President Tinubu assures Nigerians that these envoys of death, pain, and sorrow will not escape justice.”
Police confirm 96 deaths, 221 burnt houses
The Plateau State Police Command also lamented the attacks, saying the death toll had risen to over 96.
It said: “Findings from the assessment of the ugly incidents in Bokkos LGA revealed that the total number of villages attacked is 12.
“Two hundred and twenty-one houses were set ablaze, 27 motorcycles were burnt, eight motor vehicles were burnt down and over 79 persons were killed.
“Seventeen deaths were also recorded in Barkin-Ladi LGA.”
The police listed the villages as Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat and Butura Kampani in Bokkos council and Barkin-Ladi LGA as well as NTV, Hurum and Darawat in Barkin-Ladi.
The command, in a statement by its Spokesman, Okoro Alawari, also condoled the families of the victims.
Alawari added that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations had been directed to relocate to Bokkos LGA and to deploy well-armed operational forces to other troubled areas to prevent further attacks.
But Kassa said Bokkos council lost 125 persons while his Barkin Ladi counterpart Danjuma Dakil stated that the number had risen from 17 to 30 in his area.
Kassa, in a telephone interview with The Nation, said: “The situation on the ground now is not yet Uhuru. We are working tirelessly. We never launched any attack on anyone. They are the ones attacking and we cannot understand why.
“The death toll from Bokkos now is 125.”
Dakil also said the casualty figure “is now 30, not 17 as earlier reported”
The council chairmen added that over 1,000 injured persons were rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH ) and “several other hospitals in Jos.”
The Plateau Chapter of the National Union of Teachers ( NUT ) on Friday held a special prayer session for intercession to end killings in the state.
Speaking at the event to mark the 2018 World Teachers’ Day on Friday in Jos, Mr Ayuba Gana, the NUT Chairman in Plateau said the state was marking the day solemnly because of the spate of killings.
Gana said the prayer was to seek God’s intervention in the security challenges in the state which had destroyed lives and property and threatened access to quality education for children.
“We are praying against the killings because it threatens the future of our children.
“They cannot go to school in this situation; this is a concern to us and should be to every member of the society
“ We have lost many teachers and school children in these killings; we do not want our situation to be like that of Borno where many schools have been abandoned because of security challenges.
“The prayer session is also is to seek for wisdom and grace for teachers to discharge their duties diligently irrespective of the challenges they are facing,’’ he said.
He said the prayer was further geared towards seeking improvement in their welfare alleging that they were last promoted in 2016 even though many teachers were currently due for promotion.
“ Many teachers are stagnated in their current positions, our annual increment has been irregular and many retired teachers are yet to receive their entitlements and are suffering ill health.
“We are still receiving half salary since the approval of the N18, 000 minimum wage and in many rural schools, there are inadequate teachers “ he said.
Gana said the theme for the 2018 celebration, ‘’the Right to Education means the Right to a Qualified Teacher’’ was apt as it showed the importance of teachers in improving access to quality education.
One of the teachers, Mr Bashir Isah stressed the need for sponsors of attacks in the state to be exposed just as the people must endeavour to live in peace.
Mrs Martha Ibrahim on her part, prayed for improved welfare for teachers and better enabling environment for teaching and learning.
Over 100 primary school teachers across the 17 local government areas in Plateau converged on the NUT secretariat for the special prayer session.
NAN reports that World Teachers Day is marked annually on Oct. 5 to highlight the contributions of teachers to ensure a better society while seeking better welfare for them.
