[PLATEAU ATTACK]: Food Prices Set To Hit Another High As Farmer's Settlement Attacks Deepens

As the eve of Christmas deepened in the South with sparkles of fireworks, the trembling and ear-deafening sounds of bangers and the increase supplications for a wonderful festivity in different churches scattered around, the middle-belt was to commemorate another Silenced silent night.  In the wee hours of the eve - 24th - 12 - 2023, some men from the underworld struck again. Some tabloids addressed them as Bandits or gunmen while others called them Fulani herdsmen.

Whichever they were, the end was the same. More than a 120 persons including men, women and children were struck dead in cold blood and more than 220 persons were left injured. Houses were burnt down and the villages took a desolate look. The village of Bokkos was the first to be attacked and the mayhem continued into Barkin Ladi all in Plateau state. An outstanding 20 communities were attacked.

Come to think of it that just some few weeks ago, the Governor of Plateau state, Caleb Mutfwang, in preparations for the state celebrations of the Christmas invited the famous Hatian rapper and musician, Wyclef Jean to perform alongside other Nigerian artiste as he plans to launch the building of the New Plateau Hub

 Just for some days after, the sweetness plus all it's flavour turned sour as this time, some uninvited persons nicodemusly perpetrated themselves into the homes and villages of Platians. Taking with them the lives of more than 120 persons and counting

In a special interview with Governor Caleb Mutfwang by Arise Tv, this is what he doled out as the situation report:

....... I regret to inform you that as at this morning, we probably have had a harvest of death in excess of 100. We have buried not less than 15 people in Mangu local government, and in Bokkos, it is 100 and still counting minus those who are missing we cannot account for at the moment. Aslo, not less than 17 communities have been completely burned down and those who survived are presently in a temporary IDP camp, particularly in Bokkos. It's been a great tragedy. What have we done to be able to get this point before. 

....... This recent action has nothing to with Farmers herders clash. It has nothing to do with religion. This is pure criminality. This is pure terrorism. This is just gruesome murder on the eve of revered day of remembrance. It's quite unfortunate but we will continue these engagements and exorw other ways by which we can bring the situation all under control......

                              26th Dec, 2023

 

 This level of terrorism isn't new to the people of Plateau State. Infact, it is becoming to seem like an annual event, same day, same places.  A Twitter user by name Manasseh Allen  recounted the killing of one Reverend  Jonathan Daluk during the massacre in his post:

"killed in the attack of yesterday, 24 December, 2023, in Bokkos and Mangu areas of Plateau State. Rev. Jonathan Daluk the District Superintendent of Assemblies of God in the area. His mother and younger brother were also killed. Pray for his family"                               

These killings have been historic. It definitely didn't begin at the turn of the 21st century but I will start from the return of Democracy in 1999. Olusegun Obasanjo was the President and Commander in chief of the Armed Forces. 

According to The New Humanitarian  Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in Plateau state following the retaliated killings of christians. According to the report in March 2004, more than 2000 christians have been killed since 2001 and Obasanjo had to sack Joshua Dariye, the then governor of Plateau state following what he called his indecisiveness in stopping the killings. A state of emergency was declared and  Chris Ali was made an interim governor of the state. 

On March 7, 2010 the Human Rights Watch reported another massacre that occured in Plateau state. According to news outlet as reported:

The latest killings in Nigeria's restive Plateau State took place in the early morning hours of March 7, when groups of men armed with guns, machetes, and knives attacked residents of the villages of Dogo Nahawa, Zot, and Ratsat, 10 kilometers south of Jos, the capital of Plateau State. The dead included scores of women and children.

Witnesses interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that the attacks were committed by Muslim men speaking Hausa and Fulani against Christians, mostly of the Berom ethnicity. Civil society leaders in Jos said that the attacks appeared to be in retaliation for previous attacks against Muslim communities in the area and the theft of cattle from Fulani herdsmen. On January 19, more than 150 Muslim residents were killed in an attack on the nearby town of Kuru Karama.

According to their source, at least 200 people were killed. The Human Right Watch made suggestions to the acting president. He was advised that he should ensure that the military and the police act swiftly to protect civilians of all ethnicities at risk of further attacks or reprisal killings, including by conducting regular patrols throughout the vulnerable region. Yet, the peace remained tentative.