In a harrowing turn of events, Christian villages in the central Nigerian state of Plateau are grappling with the aftermath of a series of coordinated attacks over the Christmas weekend, resulting in the tragic death of nearly 200 Christian Nigerians. Disturbing images obtained by CNA depict victims being laid to rest in mass graves, underscoring the magnitude of the bloodshed.
Expressing dismay, Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang declared, “This indeed has been a gory Christmas for us,” highlighting the well-coordinated nature of the attacks involving heavy weapons. The attacks unfolded across 26 Christian communities in Plateau, commencing on the night of December 23 and persisting through Christmas Day.
Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese in northern Nigeria issued a fervent plea to newly elected President Bola Tinubu, urging immediate action to safeguard the Nigerian people. In a stern address, the bishop emphasized, “You have no excuses before God or the people of Nigeria,” cautioning that failure to act would be unforgivable by both God and history. He further lamented the prevailing sense of hopelessness among Nigerians, stating that the government's commitment to addressing corruption and prioritizing citizens' welfare is essential.
Accounts from local news sources and human rights activists point to 198 Christians falling victim to terror attacks across the Plateau. Maria Lozano of the papal relief group Aid to the Church in Need attributed the violence to a radicalized , the Fulani tribe, marking one of the most violent periods in the region's history. Notably, these attacks coincide with a pattern of terrorists targeting Christian communities during significant religious feasts, echoing the 2022 Pentecost massacre that claimed 50 lives.
Lozano highlighted the underlying ethnic and religious tensions between Christian farmers and nomadic Fulani herdsmen, suggesting religious undertones to the attacks. Critically, she underscored the government's historical lack of response, aggravating the situation and leaving Christian churches to bear the primary responsibility for providing assistance.
In response to the atrocities, President Bola Tinubu ordered an immediate mobilization of relief resources and directed security agencies to apprehend the culprits responsible. Governor Mutfwang urged a comprehensive investigation to identify and hold accountable the sponsors of these attacks, emphasizing the need to cut off the supply chain supporting such violence.
Religious-rights attorney Sean Nelson, closely monitoring the situation, condemned the attacks as fueled by the Fulani tribe's "hatred of Christians" and their territorial ambitions. Nelson echoed calls for the Nigerian government to go beyond verbal support and take substantive action, stressing that the scale of the recent attack demands a departure from past inaction.
As the Christian communities reel from the devastation, the nation watches closely, hoping for tangible and decisive measures to prevent further bloodshed and address the root causes of this recurring violence.