In the aftermath of the Christmas eve massacre in Plateau State, where over 195 lives were lost and the perpetrators remain at large, Pushit community in Mangu LGA is now under a fresh threat of attack. According to Stanley Kavwam, Deputy National President of the Middle-Belt Forum (MBF), insurgents have written letters detailing plans to launch an attack on Pushit community on December 29, with anonymous persons dropping letters hinting at previous attacks in Mangu LGA.
Kavwam alleges that the military is aware of the identity of the attackers and their hideouts but claims that some communities are still being invaded. Despite over 30 distress calls made to security personnel before the recent attacks, the assaults on Plateau communities, predominantly Christian settlements, continue without adequate intervention.
International bodies, including the United Nations and the Northern Caucus of the House of Representatives, have called for a thorough investigation into the attacks, demanding accountability for the lives lost and displacement caused. The Plateau socio-cultural group, Bokkos Local Government Like-minds Association, has also condemned the attacks, urging increased efforts in intelligence gathering and the prosecution of perpetrators.
As the federal government expresses condolences and vows to scale up intelligence gathering and crisis response, calls for swift action and security reforms persist. The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, commends the Christian community for their support and emphasizes the need for unity against tribalism.
While the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, calls for a legislative investigation into the killings, religious leaders, including the PFN National President, Bishop Francis Oke, appeal for immediate and effective measures to end the violence. The PFN President specifically urges President Bola Tinubu to deploy federal might to restore peace in Plateau State, echoing the sentiment that the "peace on the Plateau could no longer be postponed."
The recurring violence in Plateau State underscores the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms, transparent investigations, and concerted efforts to address the root causes of inter-communal conflicts, disputes over land and resources, and deep-seated ethnic tensions.
