Toba Owojaiye reporting
Jos, Plateau state.
In a tragic turn of events on Christmas Eve, Plateau State witnessed unprovoked attacks that resulted in the loss of 145 lives and the burning of 221 houses in 23 villages in Plateau State.
Governor Mutfwang, visibly distressed, condemned the attacks as unprecedented and monumental, emphasizing the assailants’ failed attempt to break the spirit of the affected communities.
He said “As I am talking to you, in Mangu Local Government alone, we buried 15 people. As at this morning, in Bokkos, we are counting over 100 corpses. Not to talk of that of Barkin-Ladi,”
Truth Live News reports that Governor Mutfwang urged security agents to uncover the sponsors of this carnage and their blood-thirsty foot-soldiers, highlighting the need for swift justice.
The Plateau State Police Command, through Commissioner Okoro Alawari, revealed the grim statistics on Tuesday. The attacks, orchestrated by yet-to-be-identified assailants in 15 communities of Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas, left 96 people dead and 221 houses in ashes. Eight vehicles were also burnt during the violent onslaught.
The Commissioner of Police expressed grief over the attacks and sympathized with the bereaved families. The statement detailed the specific villages targeted and the preventive measures taken to avoid further bloodshed. The Commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to relocate to Bokkos LGA, deploying additional forces to assess damages and prevent subsequent attacks.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) responded to the horrifying incidents, with President Archbishop Daniel Okoh condemning the violence in the strongest terms. The statement expressed solidarity with the victims, particularly mourning the loss of lives in the Baptist Church in Chirang village. CAN denounced the destruction of houses, worship centers, and properties, categorizing these acts as both criminal and an assault on shared values of peace, unity, and mutual respect.
The aftermath of the attacks revealed a grim reality: 12 villages attacked, 221 houses set ablaze, 27 motorcycles burnt, and eight vehicles destroyed in Bokkos LGA. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities promising to communicate further developments soon.
Plateau State now grapples with the aftermath of a Christmas Eve nightmare, seeking not only justice for the victims but also communal healing in the face of such senseless violence.
