PLATEAU MASSACRE: Burnt Corpses Litter Communities 12 Days After Christmas Eve Attack
Twelve days after the Christmas Eve attacks by gunmen that resulted in residents fleeing Plateau communities in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu Local Government Areas, leaving over 150 dead, the affected areas remain desolate.
Quoting The PUNCH correspondent, it was reported that the violence, escalating in Plateau State, peaked during the Christmas Eve incident when gunmen targeted more than 25 communities, resulting in the tragic loss of over 150 lives.
In addition to the loss of lives, the gunmen set fire to numerous houses and properties valued in millions of naira, leading to the displacement of over 10,000 individuals, including communities such as Mangur, Mbar, Tangur, Bokkos Central, Butura, and Mushere.
During a visit to the affected communities, including Matellem village, Dung village, Yelwa village, and Ngyong, it was observed that the villages were entirely abandoned. There was also an absence of any security presence in these affected communities.
Notably, at Mbar community where a pastor, four of his children and his wife were among those said to have been killed, charred remains of other residents who were burnt beyond recognition littering the floor of their burnt houses.
Quoting Gideon ParaMallam, a peace advocate who visited the Bokkos communities with his Peace Foundation team, he expressed apprehension about the extensive destruction. He mentioned, “The attacks in Bokkos villages have been very devastating. The loss of lives and the degrading of human dignity has been very painful. Our peace foundation came to make a call for peace to appeal to the people of Bokkos for restraints.”
ParaMallam further elaborated on the purpose of their visit, stating, “We have also come to see things for ourselves so that we can promote the cry for Justice for the people of Bokkos. Our peace foundation believes in peace-building that is predicated on Justice.”
Addressing the false narrative surrounding the conflict, ParaMallam clarified, “That useless narrative that goes around that makes it look as if it is Bokkos people who have been fighting and killing themselves is a complete fallacy and a lie. Bokkos People are not killing themselves.”
He emphasized the need for national condemnation of the terrorism, stating, “The only way to bring peace to Bokkos Communities is to return them back to their communities.”
