In a horrifying series of events over the Christmas 2023 holiday, the Christian community in Plateau State, Nigeria, was subjected to brutal attacks.
As various sources have reported, nearly 200 people lost their lives in these incidents, with several others sustaining injuries.
These violent acts have sparked discussions about the underlying religious and ethnic frictions in the region.
During the late hours of Christmas Eve, armed offenders launched attacks on Christian villages in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu counties.
The attacks, according to Plateau State’s Police Commissioner, Okoro Alawari, were extensive and well-organized, involving the use of heavy artillery. This has led to suggestions of a calculated campaign against the Christian population.
Amnesty International Nigeria reported a total of 194 fatalities in Plateau State, including 148 in Bokkos, 27 in Barkin Ladi, and 19 in Mangu. These figures were verified by the Nigerian Red Cross, which pointed out the significant impact on the communities affected, with over 32,000 people impacted and nearly 30,000 displaced.
The International Christian Concern has consistently listed Nigeria in its annual Persecutors of the Year report for the last three years. This highlights the ongoing threat to Christians, particularly in the Middle Belt region, where over 50,000 Christians have been killed in the past 20 years, leading to millions being displaced.
The international community, including human rights organizations and various religious groups, has condemned these attacks. They have called on the Nigerian government to immediately take effective measures to ensure the safety and welfare of all its citizens.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has ordered the mobilization of relief resources and instructed security agencies to investigate and apprehend those responsible for the attacks. Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese urged President Tinubu to protect the Nigerian people, emphasizing the government’s duty to address and prevent such incidents of violence.
