Over the Christmas 2023 Holiday, a series of brutal attacks occurred in Plateau State, Nigeria, leaving a tragic toll on the Christian community.
Reports from various sources indicate the death of nearly 200 people, with many more injured.
These attacks have raised concerns about religious and ethnic tensions in the region.
In the late hours of Christmas Eve, armed assailants targeted Christian villages in the counties of Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu.
According to the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Okoro Alawari, the attacks were widespread and well-coordinated, utilizing heavy weaponry, suggesting a deliberate campaign against the Christian population.
Amnesty International Nigeria reported a total of 194 people killed in Plateau State, including 148 in Bokkos, 27 in Barkin Ladi, and 19 in Mangu. The Nigerian Red Cross confirmed these figures, noting the substantial impact on the affected communities, with over 32,000 people affected and nearly 30,000 displaced.
The International Christian Concern listed Nigeria in its annual Persecutors of the Year report for the past three years, highlighting the ongoing danger to Christians, particularly in the Middle Belt region. Over the past 20 years, more than 50,000 Christians have been killed in this area, and millions have been displaced.
The international community, including human rights organizations and various religious groups, has condemned the attacks and urged the Nigerian government to take immediate and effective action to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has ordered the mobilization of relief resources and directed security agencies to investigate and arrest those responsible for the attacks. Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese urged President Tinubu to take immediate action to protect the Nigerian people, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to address and prevent such violence.
