Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has described the Christmas Eve attacks on communities as genocide.
Gatekeepers News reports that in his New Year broadcast, Muftwang asserted that the assaults resulting in over 160 deaths were not caused by farmer-herder clashes.
He labelled the attacks as acts of criminality, insurgency, and terrorism, calling for a coordinated response to address the complex security challenges.
The Governor declared a week of mourning from January 1st to January 8th, 2024, with flags flying at half-mast, urging intense prayers for divine intervention in defending the state against further attacks.
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.
He called on Muslim and Christian leaders to dedicate specific days for prayers to seek lasting peace for Plateau State.
“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.”
Community leaders and the state government have appealed to the Federal Government to deploy more troops and military hardware to enhance security in the 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.
