Over 115 people, including women and children, massacred in Plateau

Armed assailants killed at least 115 people in Plateau state in a series of attacks on villages on Christmas eve, state and local government officials said.

The attacks took place between 6pm and 10pm on Sunday in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Mangu local government areas, officials said.

“Just as we had finished preparations for Christmas, unprovoked attacks were unleashed on our communities,” Gov Caleb Muftwang told Channels TV on Tuesday.

“As I am talking to you, in Mangu Local Government alone, we buried 15 people. As at this morning in Bokkos, we are counting over 100 corpses. Not to talk of Barkin Ladi.”

The toll marked a sharp rise from the initial figure reported on Sunday evening of just 16 dead. Plateau state has been plagued for years by ethnoreligious tensions between indigenous farming communities and nomadic Fulani pastoralists.

Locals said Sunday’s attacks were carried out by Fulani herders, long blamed for a series of horrific killings in different parts of Nigeria.

Amnesty International, which initially reported over 70 deaths in 20 communities, said the death toll had risen to 140.

The group criticised the government in the wake of the attacks, saying “the Nigerian authorities have been failing to end frequent deadly attacks on rural communities of Plateau state,” in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“Well coordinated attacks”

The police said over 96 died. Plateau police spokesperson Alfred Alabo said the attacks occurred on 15 villages in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi local government areas “simultaneously.”

“Findings from the assessment of the incident in Bokkos revealed that the 12 villages were attacked; more than 79 persons killed, and 221 houses were set ablaze,” he said in a statement.

“Three communities were attacked in Barkin-Ladi where 17 persons were killed. Investigation and monitoring are still on and further development will be communicated soon,” Mr Alabo stated.

Monday Kassah, head of the local government in Bokkos, Plateau State, told AFP the “well-coordinated” attacks left over 300 injured.

“As many as 113 persons have been confirmed killed as Saturday hostilities persisted to early hours of Monday,” he said.

“We found more than 300 wounded people” who were transferred to hospitals in Bokkos, Jos and Barkin Ladi.”

The raid started in Bokkos before extending to Barkin Ladi, he added.

Gyang Bere, the governor’s spokesperson, said “proactive measures will be taken by the government to curb ongoing attacks against innocent civilians.”