There was outrage yesterday over the Christmas Eve killings of at least 96 in Plateau villages.

Governors, Northern Senators, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Northern Elders Forum (NEF), the Senator representing Plateau South, Simon Lalong; former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; former Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) all condemned the attacks.

It said nothing justified the violence visited on innocent people.

The NGF prayed God to comfort all the affected families.

It appealed to everyone on the Plateau to do everything to avoid a cycle of violence, which only inflicts generational pains and underdevelopment.

Senators: it’s indefensible

The Northern Senators Forum, in a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Suleiman Sumaila, said the attack was “devoid of reason”.

“This brutal act is indefensible, devoid of reason, and stains our shared humanity.

“We unequivocally condemn such heinous acts and express our deepest condolences to the affected families, loved ones, the people, and the Government of Plateau State.

“Their immense loss is a collective grief, and we stand united in our determination to seek justice. In our legislative role, we strongly condemn this reprehensible act and call upon the authorities to promptly initiate a comprehensive investigation.

“Allocating necessary resources to swiftly identify and apprehend the perpetrators is paramount.

“They must face the full force of the law, ensuring justice prevails,” the forum said.

Lalong described the attack as another barbaric act of crisis merchants who are bent on making the state unstable.

He said the timing was an attempt to cause chaos and incite citizens to hatred and disunity.

In a statement by his media aide, Dr. Makut Macham, the Senator urged the Federal Government to mobilise the security agencies to get justice for the victims and bring the perpetrators’ evil enterprise to an end.

The former Plateau governor called on the citizens to be vigilant and adopt surveillance measures that will enable the security agencies to deal with such attackers swiftly and decisively.

Former senator representing Plateau North, Istifanus Gyang, in a statement by his media assistant, Evelyn Pulle, said: “At a time when the world was celebrating Christmas, forces of darkness plotted and executed a massacre of hapless and helpless citizens in cold blood.

“For how long will the lives of men and women, young and old, be butchered to grab and annexe ancestral homelands of communities and meet demands of satanic altars?

“This vexing question is on the libs of all men and women of good conscience.”

Abbas: attack heinous

Abbas, who described the attacks as “barbaric and heinous,” said the deaths were “too many.”

He urged security and intelligence agencies to forestall further loss of lives and property in the state and other parts of the country.

“Nigeria has recorded too many losses of lives and property under attacks, and this trend must stop forthwith,” Abbas said.

CAN: violence must not be allowed to prevail

CAN, in a statement by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said in a statement: “We condemn these acts of violence in the strongest possible terms.

“Such acts have no place in our society and must not be allowed to prevail.

“We urge the security agencies to intensify their efforts in intelligence gathering and proactive interventions to pre-empt and forestall these types of dastardly acts in the future.

“Our people deserve to live in peace, and it is high time we moved from reactive to preventive measures.”

Chairman of the Plateau chapter of CAN, Rev. Polycarp Lubo, added that the assailants first threatened the communities.

He believes the attacks could have been prevented if proactive measures had been taken.

Lubo told reporters: “I was told that these killers sent letters to the villagers. They told them that they would not celebrate Christmas.

“So I am surprised they could not tell security agents or anybody about it.”

He called on the Plateau Indigenous Development Association (PIDAN), to rally their people to defend their communities.

NEF seeks probe of security lapses

NEF, in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, called for a review of security strategies to prevent such attacks.

“NEF expresses concern over the inability of the military to prevent the Christmas Eve killings, despite claiming to have promptly responded to 36 distress calls from different locations in Plateau State in the 48 hours leading up to Christmas.

“This highlights the Forum’s growing suspicions regarding the efficacy and sufficiency of the government’s operational methods.

“NEF questions whether the strategies employed by the government are flawed or grossly inadequate, given the audacious regularity and ease with which the attackers operate across the northern region.

“NEF is also deeply concerned about the recent security incident in Ruwan Dorawa village, Zamfara State.

“The tragic event that unfolded on the same Christmas Eve resulted in the loss of two innocent lives and the abduction of over 25 individuals, predominantly children and women, including the wife of the village head.

“In light of this incident and the escalating security challenges faced by the region, NEF urgently demands a comprehensive investigation into the reported security lapse in Ruwan Dorawa village.

“The findings of this inquiry must be made public, and those responsible for the security breach must be held accountable to ensure justice for the victims and prevent such incidents from reoccurring.”

Obi, Saraki, Sani demand justice

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi condemned the attack.

In a statement on X, he urged the security agencies to remain steadfast.

he tweeted: “Let them be reassured that a grateful nation appreciates their labours.

“Great nations are built by rulers, citizens, and the protectors of freedom.

“Therefore, to all our illustrious heroes, please accept the prayers and thoughts of your compatriots and the appreciation of a grateful nation for your services and sacrifices. God bless you all for what you do for us all.”

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki called for a thorough investigation.

“The audacity of the assailants and the sheer scale of the carnage are reminders of the deep-seated challenges that continue to plague our nation and the urgent need for decisive action to address the root causes of these conflicts.

“I urge the Federal Government to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into this heinous act.

“No stone must be left unturned, and no perpetrator is allowed to go free.

“All the affected communities should receive justice. All well-meaning Nigerians want answers,” he said in a statement.

Former Senator, Shehu Sani, demanded justice.

He said: “I watched the video of the outcome of the massacre in Plateau. This is one of the cruellest acts of inhumanity I’ve ever seen.

“Should we condemn it and unequivocally demand justice or should we continue with the complicit practice of the deodorisation of mass murder using religious or ethnic sentiments?

“The scene of a baby crying on the back of the corpse of its mother is a horror that should haunt the conscience of every responsible citizen of this country.”

JNI condemn attacks

The Plateau council of JNI, in a statement by its secretary, Dr Salim Musa, said it was unfortunate that this cycle of violence was resurfacing.

“We call on the communities to take the lead in nurturing and sustaining their peace. An enforced peace is no peace at all,” it said.

The JNI said the security agencies seemed to be overwhelmed.

“They need the support of everyone to succeed and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“It is a collective responsibility for all to contribute towards sustainable peace,” it said.

MACBAN sad over killing of herders

MACBAN lamented the killings of 22 herders in the attack.

State chairman Muhammad Nuru Abdullah told reporters: “This unprovoked act of criminality is condemnable, particularly at a time that we have put incidents of the past behind us to work with government and security agencies to ensure lasting peace in our communities.

“All efforts were put in place toward achieving sustainable peace and unity, but yet such dastardly act continued to show its ugly face.

“We condole the family of the deceased and pray that God grant them eternal rest.

“We solicit for calm. No one should take the law into their own hands because it won’t resolve the matter.

“Please allow security to do their work and fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.” (The Nation)

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