The government of Plateau state in the central African country said at least 160 civilians were killed in dozens of attacks at several locations in the region, which is around 200 kilometers from the capital Abuja.
Andrea De Angelis News from the Vatican
The first statement appeared on Sunday, December 24, and reported 16 victims in Plateau State in central Nigeria. On Monday, December 25th, the death toll rose sharply: at least 160 people were killed in several attacks in around 20 locations in the region. The news came from the state government, which spoke of “bandits” attacking at least 20 settlements between Saturday night and Monday morning, describing the attacks as “coordinated”.
A conflict area
Conflicts between the plateau's various communities are frequent and ongoing, and the violence often results in herders and farmers attacking each other, largely due to disputes. The herdsmen are largely Muslim, while the farmers are predominantly Christian, which over the years has contributed to the attribution of an ethnoreligious motivation to this violence. Violence contributed by the impacts of climate change on agriculture.
Hundreds injured
Plateau Youth Ethnic Nationalities Coalition President Paul Dakete stressed that the killings had turned what should have been a festive celebration, namely Christmas, into a time of mourning and called on authorities to put an end to these attacks because “the madness must come to an end.” “The hostilities that began on Saturday continued on Monday morning,” Bokkos Governing Council Chairman Monday Kassah later reported, and “more than 300 people were injured and taken to hospitals relocated to Bokkos, Jos and Barkin Ladi.”
The bludger could get worse
Further news comes from Amnesty International's Nigeria office, which told the Associated Press that it had confirmed 140 deaths so far in the Christianmajority areas of Bokkos and BarkinLadi, based on data compiled by its field staff and local authorities . There are fears the death toll could get even worse with some people missing. The attacks have not yet been claimed.