By Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong
Until the breakdown of law and order in Nigeria resultant from poor governance dispensed by egocentric, corrupt leaders, Jos in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria was a destination for tourists.
But since the advent of multiphaseceted terrorism in the country most regions in the Northern Nigeria has remained an unabated red flag and Plateau State is not always missing in the roll call of flash points in the country.
Aside from the Christmas Eve genocide of December 24th night spilling over to 25th, similar incident has occurred in Jos North, Anguwan Rukuba and it’s environs in 2001, 2004 and 2008.
The 2023 Christmas eve
attacks took place in Mangu, Bokkos, and Barkin-Ladi local government areas an the death toll is increasing by the day.
The initial figure reported by the army on Sunday 24th indicated only 16 casualties in a region plagued by longstanding religious and ethnic tensions.
Monday Kassah, the head of the local government in Bokkos confirmed that the death toll had risen to as many as 113 individuals. The attacks, orchestrated by military gangs locally known as “bandits,” were described as “well-coordinated” and targeted over 20 different communities. Kassah revealed that more than 300 wounded individuals had been discovered and subsequently transferred to hospitals in Bokkos, Jos, and Barkin Ladi.
The violence, initially concentrated in the Bokkos area, spilled over into the neighboring Barkin Ladi, claiming the lives of an additional 30 people, as reported by local chairman Danjuma Dakil.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attacks and vowed to curb the spate of attacks in the state.
Plateau State is an ethnically and religiously diverse state in central Nigeria which has been plagued by communal and farmer-herder tensions for decades.
Its vast landmass with scanty security presence in the rural areas often make way for attackers to escape before troops arrive.
The crisis has been fuelled by political tensions, religious sentiments, mutual hatred, misinformation, struggles for self-determination, control over land resources and chieftaincy struggles.
Besides the high cost of living which has made life unbearable in Nigeria, genocide, terrorism and militancy has complicated the puzzle for the Federal Government as she is yet to find a solution to it.
