The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Plateau State organised a ‘Plateau Peace Walk’ rally on Monday, expressing deep concern over the ongoing violence in the state and other parts of the country.
Rev Polycarp Lubo, the CAN chairman, and Rev Dr Stephen Panya, President of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), led the sombre procession.
Plateau State mourns the Christmas Eve killings in Jos, the state capital, where over 200 lives were lost during a coordinated attack in the Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas.
Christian leaders, including Rev Dr Amos Mohzo and Rev Nkechi Nwosu, joined the rally, emphasising the need for decisive government actions to address the escalating violence.
The attacks, marked by bloodshed and destruction, drew local and international condemnation, prompting the governor to criticise the military’s response and label the incidents as a carnage.
The United Nations called for a thorough investigation into the widespread violence affecting over 50 villages.
Despite promises from the Federal Government to curb the menace of marauders, the people of Plateau State demand more than assurances, seeking concrete actions and protection against aggressors. Vice President Kashim Shettima visited the affected communities, but citizens express a growing need for tangible measures.
The recurring violence in North-West and central Nigeria, fueled by bandit militias, underscores the complex challenges arising from competition for natural resources between nomadic herders and farmers.
Calls for citizens to bear arms face resistance from Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who believes in the Nigerian Army’s ability to defend the country without resorting to self-defense, citing concerns about potential anarchy.
