Group condemns Plateau killings, makes case for state police

Etim Ekpimah

A human rights group in Nigeria, the Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has condemned the Christmas Eve terrorists’ attacks on communities in Plateau State, Nigeria, which led to the massacre of over 160 innocent Nigerians and the displacement of over 10,000 persons.

The group, in a press statement issued by its Director and Secretary, Otuekong Franklyn Isong and Mr Christopher Ekpo, respectively, on Wednesday, 27 December 2023, and made available to newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, described the attacks as “carnage, barbaric, and condemnable,” calling on President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

The rights group consoled families and friends who lost their loved ones in the attacks.

The group queried the intelligence system of security agencies, amazed that the terrorists successfully carried out the attacks, which lasted for several hours without the intervention of security agencies.

The group urged security agencies in the country to intensify efforts and utilise modern technology and measures to pre-empt and forestall future attacks, adding that security agencies must advance from reaction to pre-emption.

It called on President Tinubu and the National Assembly “to institute a probe into the massacre to unravel the sources of funding and sponsors of the terrorists.”

It also urged the state and federal governments to provide adequate relief materials, including shelter, to the affected persons.

The civil society group, however, called on the National Assembly to immediately commence the process of amending the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the establishment of State Police to augment federal security agencies in combating security challenges and crimes within the territories of the respective states of the federation.

Meanwhile, the massacre had caused outrage on Tuesday over Christmas Eve attacks on communities in three local government areas of Plateau State.

President Bola Tinubu, in a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, condemned the attacks and ordered a manhunt for the killers.

While condoling with the government and the people of Plateau State, Tinubu assured Nigerians that “these envoys of death, pain, and sorrow will not escape justice.”

As the President ordered the arrest of the killers, the Chairman of Community Peace Observers in the Bokkos Local Government Area, Kefas Mallai, said over 150 persons were killed by the gunmen.

Mallai also said information indicated that the gunmen were still attacking some villages, adding that over 10,000 people were displaced by the attacks, which had attracted strong condemnation by prominent groups and individuals including northern governors and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

It was learnt that on Sunday, gunmen stormed Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat, and Butura Kampani villages in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos areas of Plateau State burning houses and shooting residents.