Barely days after armed groups initiated attacks in a Local Government Area in Plateau State, Nigeria, a fresh assault occurred on Thursday night in the community of Budel in the Tangur district of the same local government. Marauders attacked the community, setting homes ablaze, as disclosed by the Transition Committee Chairman of Bokkos, Monday Kassah. Fortunately, timely intervention by security personnel prevented any recorded deaths.
Providing an update on the Christmas Day attack, Kassah confirmed that the number of casualties stands at 195. The victims include 148 in Bokkos Local Government Area, 19 in Mangu Local Government Area, and 27 in Barkin Ladi. Additionally, 1,290 houses were burned down in Bokkos council, with one house razed in Mangu LGA. The extent of damage in Barkin Ladi was yet to be ascertained at the time of reporting.
The Christmas Day attacks, which initially started in the Bokkos area, extended to neighbouring Barkin Ladi, resulting in the death of 30 people, according to local chairman Danjuma Dakil. Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the violence, labeling it “barbaric, brutal, and unjustified.” The governor’s spokesperson, Gyang Bere, assured that proactive measures would be taken to curb ongoing attacks against innocent civilians.
Gunfire continued to be heard on Monday afternoon, and residents reported unexpected attacks while people were sleeping. Amnesty International criticized the government’s response, stating that “the Nigerian authorities have been failing to end frequent deadly attacks on rural communities of Plateau state.”
The plateau region has long grappled with religious and ethnic tensions, resulting in hundreds of deaths and displacement of thousands. The competition for natural resources between nomadic herders and farmers, exacerbated by rapid population growth and climate pressures, has further fueled social tensions and violence in the region.
