Horror attacks in Plateau State where at least 145 mostly Christians were murdered – and the death toll is expected to rise because many people remain unaccounted for.

There was not much to celebrate for Christians living in Borno State – not only because of the exorbitant cost of living but also because the federal government did not pay public servants their December salaries, leaving the low-income earners with little to no spare cash.

Christians in Maiduguri, the state’s capital, said they could not prepare for Christmas, one of the holiest days on the calendar as it celebrates the birth of Christ. Instead, most of them – particularly internally displaced persons (IDPs) – had what they described as a “low-key” festive occasion.
Joshua Isuwa, who lives at the Wulari EYN Church IDP camp in Maiduguri, said he had no money to celebrate Christmas. He was hoping that, with the help and grace of God, local wealthy Christians might provide food and non-food items, such as beef, rice and new clothes.
“Unfortunately that did not happen,” he said.

“So, some poor Christians like us didn’t celebrate Christmas with smiling faces. What can a poor person do? I can’t afford to buy food generally, let alone something special for Christmas. But thankfully, it was a peaceful day in Maiduguri and there were no attacks by insurgents.”

Maryam Kidafa, who also lives in the IDP camp, said her family celebrated Christmas in a “low-cost and low-key way”, adding that some in the camp “spent Christmas Day hungry because they had nothing to eat”.

Daniel Bori, a resident of Maiduguri, told RNI that the non-payment of December salaries by the federal government marred Christmas day for them because they were unable to buy food or prepare for the celebration.

“We had an extremely low-key Christmas.”
• It was a bloody and deadly Christmas for Christians in Plateau State in the north-central part of Nigeria where about 20 communities were attacked by armed herdsmen, thought to be from the Fulani ethnic group. At least 145 people were killed between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Plateau State governor Caleb Mutfwang said in a television broadcast that the “senseless and unprovoked” attacks on December 24 and 25 were “terrifying” and they were still searching for corpses.
Amnesty International said there were some people in the Christian-dominated Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi areas who remained unaccounted for so the death toll might be higher.

Although no group had claimed responsibility for the attack, residents accused Fulani militia for the attacks. The conflict between herders and Christian farmers in the northwest and central regions have been going on for decades. It centres on access to land and water.

Abdulkarim Hamma Khan, a resident of Jos, the capital of Plateau State, told RNI that initially 58 people were confirmed dead between Sunday, December 24 and Monday, December 25.

“The gunmen are suspected of being part of the Fulani militia. They attacked several villages in the Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi local government areas of Plateau State.

“The death toll has risen to 145 and it might be even more. Army and security operatives are still searching for corpses. The casualty figure keeps increasing as more corpses are being recovered by security agents, vigilantes and hunters who are combing the forest for the missing people.

“The attacks occurred in as many as 20 communities where many houses were burnt down. Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. Thousands of people have been displaced.

“Many survivors are trooping into Jos for safety. The area is calm now but people are still terrified.”
Hamma Khan said there were 10 displaced people who were taking refuge in his home.

“Many of those attacked and killed had returned to their hometowns and villages to celebrate Christmas with their family and friends.”

President Bola Tinubu said in a statement issued by his office that he had instructed security agencies to scour every stretch to apprehend the culprits.

He ordered immediate relief resources for the survivors and prompt medical treatment for the wounded.

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO