- Killings not farmer-herder clash, but genocide
- Declares a week of mourning
From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has expressed regret that the state ended year 2023 with sadness as more than 400 citizens were killed between April and December.
He said that it’s pretentious to tag the killings a farmer – herder clash, but a pure act of genocide visited on the people of Plateau.
In a New Year broadcast to the people, Mutfwang said that it’s unbelievable that “From small eruptions of conflict sometime in 2001, no one could have imagined that our dear state would witness such unquantifiable bloodshed of innocent lives, some known and others unknown.”
He also expressed sadness that Plateau State has today become the cynosure of the whole nation and indeed the world for the wrong reasons.
“While it is true that we ended the year 2023 on a sad note because of the many precious lives we lost including but not limited to over 400 between April and June, 2023 as well as the over 160 in the recent Christmas genocide.
“These unprovoked and simultaneous attacks in different villages were clearly premeditated and coordinated.
“These series of attacks on our people are a clear case of criminality, insurgency and terrorism and must be seen and handled in that manner if we must succeed in halting this wanton destruction of lives and property. For the avoidance of doubt, it is a misrepresentation of facts to describe these needless and unprovoked attacks on our people as a Farmer-Herder clash as has always been the traditional narrative. Let us call a spade a spade, this is simple genocide!
“Let me use this medium again to commiserate with my dear Plateau People on these monumental killings, especially the affected communities and the families of the deceased. My heart goes out to you and be assured that my family, the entire government and I deeply share in your grief. We will not rest on our oars but will tirelessly collaborate with the Federal Government to bring an end to these tragedies and bring succour to affected persons and communities.
“As a mark of honour for the memory of the deceased, I wish to declare a week of mourning from January 1st, to January 8th, 2024. During this period of mourning, flags will fly at half-mast.
“I urge all citizens to use these days for intense prayers to seek the intervention of the Almighty God in defending our territories and against wicked men that have risen against us. I wish to plead with our Muslim clerics to dedicate Friday January 5th, 2024 and our Christian Clergy to use Sunday January 7th, 2024 as special prayer days for lasting peace to return to the Plateau. Monday 8th January, 2024 will be observed as our official state day of mourning.
“It is gratifying that despite these onslaughts, our spirits are not broken. Our resolve to defend our land and prosper therein has remained unshakeable. I am therefore confident that 2024 will reveal our inner strength and resilience in the face of these tribulations.
The governor said that despite the gloomy end of 2023, the state has recorded some tangible gains starting from May 29th, 2023 when he was sworn into office.
He expressed gratitude to Vice President Kasshim Shettima, the Hon. Minister of State for Defence, the Hon. Minister for Humanitarian Service & Poverty Alleviation, the National Security Adviser, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, who visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bokkos on the directive of the President to commiserate with the government and people of Plateau State.