Plateau Massacre: Death Toll Climbs to 195, Hundreds of Houses Razed

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the death toll from the Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau State has risen to 195, with Bokkos Local Government Area being the hardest hit, recording 148 casualties. Mangu and Barkin Ladi local government areas reported 19 and 27 deaths, respectively.

The attacks also left a trail of destruction, with 1,290 houses razed in Bokkos, one in Mangu, and an undisclosed number in Barkin Ladi. The sheer scale of the devastation has led to widespread displacement, affecting over 10,000 people.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the attacks, blaming the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration for its perceived negligence on security matters. The party accused President Bola Tinubu of a lackluster response, urging immediate legislative action and an international investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In response, Vice-President Kashim Shettima assured survivors that the federal government, under President Tinubu’s leadership, would not let the perpetrators go unpunished. President Tinubu, visibly shaken by the incident, approved immediate humanitarian support for the victims.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, expressed concern over the recurring insecurity and questioned the effectiveness of intelligence-gathering mechanisms. He called on the government to be proactive in preventing future attacks.

As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the Plateau massacre, the incident has ignited discussions on the need for a concerted effort to address security challenges and protect the lives and properties of citizens. The hope is that leadership will rise to the occasion and bring about positive change in the coming months.”