Thousands of Christians from across Plateau State yesterday stormed the street Jos, the state capital, in protest over the recent killings in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas, which claimed about 100 lives and led to destruction of property.
The Christians, under the aegis of Church Leaders Denominational Forum on the Plateau, were mostly dressed in black and marched from the old government house in Rayfield to the new government house in Little Rayfield.
At the Little Rayfield, they presented their protest letter to the President Bola Tinubu GCFR, through the state Governor, Caleb Mutfwang.
The letter was jointly signed by COCIN President and Chairman Denominational Leaders’ Forum Plateau State, Rev. Dr. Amos Mohzo; Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman, Plateau State, Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo and the Secretary Denominational Leaders’ Forum, Plateau State, who doubles as the President Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, Rev. Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam.
“The Church Denominational Leaders Forum on the Plateau condemns the unprovoked, horrific, barbaric, and persistent attacks on innocent communities in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
“The recent wave of violence perpetrated by these terrorists has resulted in the cold-blooded murder of over 50 innocent civilians in Bokkos alone, including defenseless women and children.
“These unconscionable acts of brutality represent a grievous violation of human rights and a stain on our national conscience.
“Sir, Christians today have come out in large numbers to once again demonstrate our unity as we grieve in righteous indignation. We have done so peacefully.
“We protest these renewed killings as a mark of honour for the dead, a call to end all killings by armed men and other killers operating in all states in Nigeria, and to cry out for justice.
“We invited every Christian on the Plateau to come out en masse for this solemn but powerful procession as we demonstrate our pain, yet firm hope in a better future,” the letter partly read.
It noted that the group welcomed President Tinubu’s statement on April 5, condemning the heinous attacks on communities in Bokkos.
In the statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, the President stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring the safety of all citizens on the Plateau.
In his response, Governor Mutfwang thanked the protesters for their peaceful protest and said the time had come “when every Nigerian and every human being of conscience must rise up and say enough is enough to the killings which is almost two decades now.”
He assured the protesters that he was working closely with the president to halt the killings and return peace to the affected communities.