From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Amnesty International Nigeria has disclosed that from December 24, 2023 to February 2024, a total of 1,336 people were killed, out of which 533 were women, while 263 were children and 540 were men in Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
The Country Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, Mr Isa Sanusi, stated this, yesterday, at the presentation of the organisation’s research results conducted in the three local council areas in the state from December 2023 to February 2024 at the Eliel Centre, Jos, the Plateau State capital.
He said the unending crisis has forced 29,554 persons out of their respective communities becoming IDPs in various camps with 13,093 as children IDPs, while 16,461 affected were women. Sanusi said a week after the deadly Christmas eve attacks on Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi and Mangu LGAs, the research team of Amnesty International visited some of the affected areas and came out with various discoveries.
He noted that the attacks of December 24 to 26, 2023, in Barkin-Ladi LGA, had 18 women, six children and 11 men killed. Number of registered displaced persons in the camp is 1,238. Women displaced were 478, children 800 and a total number of people displaced in the LGA stands at 2,875, respectively.
In Bokkos LGA, from December 24 to 28, 2023, “number of women killed is 131, number of children killed 70, men killed 43. Total number of women displaced 9,000, children 10,000” with total number of IDPs standing at 19,000.
The country director further explained that in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, from April 15, May 16, December 24 to 28, 2023 and January 22 to 27, 2024, “number of women killed is 384, number of children killed 187, while 486 men were killed. Number of women displaced were 5,486, while the total number of people displaced was 7,679”, respectively.
Among the recommendations revealed by the Programmes Manager, Amnesty International, Nigeria, Barbara Magaji, consist of the need for the government to carry out independent investigations into some of the incidents happening on the Plateau to end the bloodshed.
“The Nigerian government must investigate these incidents impartially and ensure justice for the victims and survivors and their families. Nigerian authorities must ensure that suspected perpetrators of these attacks are brought to justice through fair trial.
People displaced must be provided with adequate humanitarian support and children’s education must be continued. Nigerian authorities must investigate the security lapses that enabled gunmen to carry out these attacks and get away with it.”
The organisation insisted that those with responsibility of protecting lives and properties of citizens must be held to account. Adding that special attention must be paid to how the conflict affects children and necessary plans must be put in place, stressing that, “the attacks and conflict in Plateau State must never happen again,” they stated.