Christmas in Plateau State Turn Deadly as Gunmen Claim Hundreds of Lives

Local authorities announced on Monday that at least 160 people fell victim to attacks by armed groups in several villages in Plateau State, central Nigeria, between Saturday evening and Monday.

The perpetrators directed their aggression towards 17 communities in what Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang described as “senseless and unprovoked” attacks on Saturday and Sunday. Governor Mutfwang shared the grim details in a broadcast on the local Channels Television on Tuesday, revealing that most houses in the affected areas were consumed by flames.

“As I am talking to you, in Mangu local government alone, we buried 15 people. As of this morning, in Bokkos, we are counting not less than 100 corpses. I am yet to take stock of (the deaths in) Barkin Ladi,” Governor Mutfwan said. “It has been a very terrifying Christmas for us here in Plateau.” The governor’s words underscore the magnitude of the tragedy as communities grapple with the aftermath of the devastating and unprovoked assaults during the holiday period.

“The hostilities that broke out on Saturday were continuing on Monday morning,” said Kassah, the chairman of the Bokkos government council, a region plagued by religious and ethnic tensions for several years. He was speaking to the Associated Press (AP) following the incident.

“At least 113 bodies have been found,” he added, challenging the army’s Sunday evening death toll of 16. On Monday, Kassah also reported that “more than 300 people” were wounded and transferred to hospitals in Bokkos, Jos, and Barkin Ladi.

In addition to the 113 casualties in the Bokkos constituency, Dickson Chollom, a member of the local assembly, disclosed that “at least 50 people were killed” in four villages in the neighboring Barkin Ladi constituency. Chollom asserted, “We will not succumb to the methods of these merchants of death; we are united in our desire for peace and justice.”

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang denounced the armed action on Sunday as “barbaric, brutal, and unjustified.” Gyang Bere, the governor’s spokesman, assured that “proactive measures will be taken by the government to curb the ongoing attacks on innocent citizens.”

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Bashir Ahmad, Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari, expressed his distress over the tragic events. “Extremely depressing to read newspaper reports on yesterday’s bandit attacks in Plateau State. My heart goes out to all the families who suffered from the tragedy. It’s incredibly saddening to even think of such loss and pain,” Ahmad wrote, urging Nigerians to unite during these challenging times.

A witness to the horrifying incident recounted the events, stating that preparations for Christmas celebrations were underway when armed men descended upon their localities. “Just when we had finished preparations for Christmas, unprovoked attacks were unleashed on our communities. As I am talking to you, in Mangu Local Government alone, we buried 15 people. As of this morning, in Bokkos, we are counting over 100 corpses. Not to talk of that of Barkin-Ladi,” the source lamented.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, it is largely attributed to the ongoing conflict between farmers and Fulani herdsmen.

Plateau State, known for its ethnic and religious diversity, has been a hotspot for inter-communal conflicts that have claimed numerous lives in previous years. The twelfth-largest Nigerian state, Plateau State, is situated near the center of Nigeria.

Mimi Mefo Info