U.S., France seek arrest of perpetrators as death toll hits 200

• Perpetrators will not go unpunished – FG vows
• DHQ blames difficult terrain for troops’ delayed response
• Mutfwang: Shedding of blood in Plateau must stop

The death toll in the Christmas Eve attacks in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi local councils of Plateau State has risen to over 200 as the search for missing persons continues.

Authorities had previously put the death toll at 163, with the police insisting 96 persons were killed.

Yesterday’s update was disclosed by the Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms.

The Nigerian Red Cross, in its tally, however, disclosed that 161 deaths were recorded with 32,604 persons affected in the attack that torched 84 communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi and left 29,350 persons displaced. The coordinated attacks also left 301 persons injured and 27 houses burnt.

Armed groups had launched attacks between Sunday evening and Tuesday morning in Plateau, a state plagued for many years by religious and ethnic tensions.

During a meeting with Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on a condolence visit on Wednesday, the chairman of Bokkos LGA, Monday Kassah, said 148 Bokkos villagers had been killed in the attacks, while at least 50 people were also reported dead in several villages in the Barkin Ladi area.

“We appeal to you to resist the temptation to succumb to sectional divisions or the poisonous rhetoric of hatred towards your fellow citizens, as we pursue justice to ensure your security,” the Vice President told local officials and displaced villagers.

There are, however, fears the death toll could rise further as some people remain missing. Kassah said that at least 20 villages were targeted in a series of well-coordinated attacks between Saturday evening and Monday morning.

According to Kassah, the confirmed deaths as of Wednesday night was 195, but more people died in hospital yesterday, raising the death toll to over 200.

“I can assure you that the figure will rise further in one or two days to come. We are seriously in mourning as we lost our brothers and sisters. The death toll is rising as some with serious injuries at the hospital are dying, while many people are still missing and search for them in the bush is underway,” Kassah added.

A large number of the dead were buried on Tuesday. Vice president of the Church of Christ in Nations, Timothy Nuwan, said many people were slaughtered like animals.

MEANWHILE, the United States Mission in Nigeria has condemned the attacks and killings in Plateau. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria in a short condolence message on X (formerly Twitter) described the incident as tragic, saying those responsible for the attacks and killing must be held accountable.

“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria condemns the recent attacks in Plateau State and expresses heartfelt condolences for the tragic loss of life. Those responsible for these heinous attacks must be held accountable,” the message read.

Similarly, France in a condolence message released through the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, also condemned the attacks and killings.

It called for the identification and prosecution of the attackers and assured the Nigerian government of its full support.

“France utterly condemns the attacks carried out over the past several days on several villages in Plateau State, located in central Nigeria, which resulted in a large number of casualties.”

However, the Federal Government has vowed that perpetrators would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, made the vow in a condolence message he signed.

“The loss of innocent lives is a tragedy that touches us all, and we stand united with the people of Plateau State during this difficult time. In line with the directives of Mr President, we will leave no stone unturned in apprehending both the collaborators and prime suspects involved in this crime against humanity. Our collective resolve is to ensure that those responsible face the full wrath of the law.

“We also pray for the quick recovery of the injured citizens and security agencies who bravely worked to secure the affected villages. It is our firm belief that by standing together, cooperating with security agencies, and providing vital information, we can assist in arresting these callous criminals, who are currently on the run.

“We understand the gravity of the security challenges facing Plateau State and the entire country, and we assure you of our continued collaboration with other stakeholders to address these issues.

“Despite this tragic incident, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ongoing reforms within the police, aimed at enhancing professionalism and the delivery of top-notch service to the Nigerian people. We will not allow such incidents to deter us from our mission,” the minister stated.

This is because the Defence Headquarters has attributed the delayed response from troops during the attacks to the terrain and other factors.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen, the Director, of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, admitted that the troops received over 30 distress calls while the attacks were on but were handicapped by the difficult terrain and other factors.

He also said the way the assailants planned and executed the attacks across the locations made it difficult for the troops to get to the scenes on time.

Edward added that the military was rejigging its strategy to ensure speedy intervention in the future.

He said: “The assailants took advantage of the relative peace that had returned to the state due to the military pressure of the past months. There were over 30 distressed calls from the communities when the attack was ongoing. Before troops could arrive at some of the locations, the havoc had been done.

“The combination of the difficult terrain and other factors played a role in delaying troops’ arrival at some of the locations.

“The assailants had intentionally planned to attack several locations at the same time to make it difficult for troops to reach there on time. Troops strategy is being rejigged to allow faster intervention in the future.”

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, noted that the response to the attacks could have been better.

Muftwang said: “I wouldn’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Certainly, the response time can be better. There were distress calls sent out. Some of the responses would have been delayed for various reasons, including the nature of our terrain.”

Murtfwang, however, declared that the killings in the state must end. The governor said he had already cried out to President Bola Tinubu to fish out the killers and also put a permanent end to the attacks in the state.

Murtfwang, in a statement he shared on X, said he has had discussions with Tinubu, adding that there are many decisions they have taken and agreed upon.

“We are grateful to the President, who was represented by Vice President Shettima, for treating the situation in Plateau as an urgent one,” he wrote.

“I appreciate the Vice President for stating how deeply shaken they are by the heinous killings of the people of Plateau State.

“We cannot pardon what has happened and when I spoke with His Excellency, the President, my cry to him was that the shedding of blood on the Plateau must stop.

“The recent happenings were uncalled for, unprovoked and barbaric. We know that these killings were not done by ghosts and the Federal Government must fish out these perpetrators.

“We will do everything to right the wrongs of the past and make sure that people that are in immediate need of healthcare are attended to.

“I have been praying for this day that we the leaders of the Plateau will become united and I want to believe the seed of that unity has been sown.”

Similarly, Amnesty International also called on the authorities to investigate the inability of the security agencies to curb the attacks.

According to the AI Country Director, Isa Sanusi, their investigation showed that the armed men operated for more than 48 hours, moving from one village to another.

“President Tinubu must set up an impartial, independent, and effective panel to investigate the apparent failure of security agencies to halt the bloodshed hours after villages that were attacked were gathering dead bodies of those killed and conveying those injured to hospitals.”