Plateau Declares Week of Mourning for Victims of Christmas Massacre
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has declared a weeklong mourning in honor of those killed during the Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau State.
More than 190 were killed by gunmen in the attacks on some of the communities in Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas.
The mourning period which begins on January 1, will end on January 8.
The Governor announcing this in a statewide new year broadcast, also directed flags to be flown half-mast throughout the period.
He called for intense prayers for divine intervention against those behind the killings, adding the attacks were acts of criminality.
The governor rejected claims in some quarters that the attacks were continuation.
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.
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Let us call a spade a spade; this is simple genocide! I commiserate with my dear Plateau people on these monumental killings, especially the affected communities and the families of the deceased.
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.
He added, 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 who have risen against us.
I wish to plead with our Muslim clerics to dedicate Friday, January 5th, 2024, and our Christian clerics to use Sunday, January 7th, 2024, as a special prayer day for lasting peace to return to the Plateau.
Monday, January 8, 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 further highlighted some of his administration’s achievements, including efforts to revamp security, clear salary backlogs, and payments of gratuity, death benefits, and pension arrears, and announced a fuel subsidy of N10,000 per month for workers from September 2023 to March 2024, pending a federal wage review.
