Christmas Eve massacre is not farmer-herder conflict, Plateau gov insists
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has described the Christmas Eve attacks on communities in the three local government areas of the state as genocide.
Mutfwang, in his New Year broadcast to the people of the state, said the attacks that led to the killing of more than 160 people were not caused by farmer-herder clashes.
The governor stated this as community leaders in the state on Monday appealed to the Federal Government to deploy more troops and military hardware to enhance security in the three troubled local government areas.
Over 160 persons were left dead and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed during the December 24 attack on 17 communities in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos local government areas by suspected terrorists.
The violence also displaced over 10,000 persons who are currently taking refuge in different locations in the state.
The Secretary-General of Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, Nanle Gujor, in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday, said the call for the deployment of more troops was imperative not only to forestall a reoccurrence of the ugly incident but to enable the displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes.
The secretary said, “At the moment, we are in a very difficult situation. We are not satisfied at all with the situation of things. The security deployed to the communities so far is grossly inadequate.
We have been saying that the government knows the strength of these attacks but they just send a very inadequate number of security agents which will not be able to contain the situation. It’s very sad because as far as we are concerned, we have not seen anything to believe that the government is serious about addressing the security challenge in the state, especially those of us that deal directly with the communities because we coordinate all the community activities in the state.
“Unless they are playing a game with what they claim to be doing; if not, they should know that security as we have it now is not enough. More (personnel) should be deployed.’’
Similarly, the Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos Local Government Area, Kefas Mallai, urged the government to deploy more security operatives in the LGAs, saying many residents heard the promises by the security chiefs but were yet to see their fulfillment.
“The people, especially the displaced persons are still stuck where they are and can’t go to the communities where they were attacked. Even here in Bokkos town, you see very few security personnel and when they pass by, it will take more than one hour or thereabout before you will see another set.
That is to tell you that they are not many. So, the government should listen to the cry of the people and solve this problem once and for all.”
In line with the demand by the community leaders, the state government also called for the deployment of more security agents in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, in an interview with The PUNCH, said, “We have been calling for more deployment of troops and other security agents to the state and we will continue to call for it until the issue is addressed. As a government, we will not rest until the security challenges confronting us in Plateau become a thing of the past.”
Meanwhile, the state government has declared a seven-day mourning period from January 1.
The governor in his New Year broadcast said the attacks and similar ones in the past were not caused by farmer-herder clashes.
The governor said, “While it is true that we ended the year 2023 on a sad note because of the many precious lives we lost including but not limited to over 400 between April and June 2023, as well as the over 160 in the recent Christmas genocide; from small eruptions of conflict sometime in 2001, no one could have imagined that our dear state would witness such unquantifiable bloodshed of innocent lives, some known and others unknown.
It is quite grievous to my heart that Plateau State has today become the cynosure of the whole nation and indeed the world for the wrong reasons. These unprovoked and simultaneous attacks in different villages were premeditated and coordinated.
“These series of attacks on our people are a clear case of criminality, insurgency, and terrorism and must be seen and handled in that manner if we must succeed in halting this wanton destruction of lives and property.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is a misrepresentation of facts to describe these needless and unprovoked attacks on our people as a farmer-herder clash as has always been the traditional narrative. Let us call a spade a spade; this is simple genocide!
“Let me use this medium again to commiserate with my dear Plateau People on these monumental killings, especially the affected communities and the families of the deceased.
My heart goes out to you and be assured that my family, the entire government and I deeply share in your grief. We will not rest on our oars but will tirelessly collaborate with the Federal Government to bring an end to these tragedies and bring succour to affected persons and communities.
“As a mark of honour for the memory of the deceased, I wish to declare a week of mourning from January 1st to January 8th, 2024. During this period of mourning, flags will fly at half-mast.
“I urge all citizens to use these days for intense prayers to seek the intervention of the Almighty God in defending our territories and against wicked men that have risen against us.
“I wish to plead with our Muslim clerics to dedicate Friday, January 5th, 2024 and our Christian clergy to use Sunday, January 7th, 2024 as special prayer days for lasting peace to return to the Plateau. Monday 8th January 2024 will be observed as our official state day of mourning.”
In a related development, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, has urged Nigerians to remain united to withstand trials, noting that unity produces the power to rebuild.
Okoh, who made the call in a statement on Monday, described the Plateau communities’ attackers as “enemies of progress who sought to cast shadows over our joy”, adding that the attacks were a reminder of the fragility of peace and a “recurrent nightmare” that had happened far too often.
He, therefore, admonished Nigerians to refuse to be discouraged, while urging them to embrace diversity as the bedrock for a stronger and more harmonious nation.
The New Year message read, “As we stand at the dawn of a new year, I want to first express my deepest gratitude to Almighty God for His unfailing protection and mercies that have seen us through the year 2023. It is by His grace that we have been preserved, overcoming the trials and tribulations of the past year.
“We were shocked to find that, as the year drew to a close, the enemies of progress sought to cast a shadow over our joy with acts of extreme violence in some communities on the Plateau.
In light of these distressing events, our prayers intensify for the souls we have lost and for the bereaved families. In the face of these adversities, it is imperative that we, as a people, refuse to be discouraged.
“Instead, we must come together and remain resolute in our commitment to build a united, peaceful, and prosperous nation. It is in our togetherness that we find the strength to withstand the trials that beset us.’’
Okoh further admonished the citizens to look to the year ahead with a renewed sense of purpose and to draw strength from faith, shared values, and a resolve to surmount obstacles confronting the country.
