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By: Johnny Edward.
Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has sent goodwill messages to victims of Christmas Eve attacks on communities in three local government areas of Plateau State, The PUNCH reports.
The winger condemned the attacks and ordered a manhunt for the killers, while calling on Nigerians to stand against violence.
On Sunday, gunmen attacked 12 villages — Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat, and Butura Kampani in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos areas of the state, burning houses and shooting at residents.
According to the Chairman of Community Peace Observers in the Bokkos Local Government Area, Kefas Mallai, over 150 people died in the attacks.
In Bokkos alone, more than 10,000 people are taking refuge in churches, mosques, schools, and private residences.
Although our reporter could not get eyewitnesses to verify the death toll supplied by Mallai, the Plateau State Government said about 115 people were killed, while the police put the death toll at 96.
Reacting to the gory incident, Musa, who is poised for his fourth African Cup of Nations appearance in Ivory Coast, wrote, “I am standing against the violence in Plateau State,” Musa wrote on X with an emoji of a broken heart.
“It’s heartbreaking to witness the recent violence in Plateau State. My thoughts are with those affected. We need to stand together against hate and violence. Let love and understanding prevail. Together, we can make a difference. Let us show love to one another.”
Plateau United captain, Elisha Golbe, also condemned the attack and called for the perpetrators to be brought to book.
“Plateau State bleeds at the moment. It is so disheartening that such a nefarious act happened on Christmas Eve with children, adults and aged ones killed. It is sad and unacceptable.”
He, however, said The Peace Boys would ensure they defeated Sporting Lagos in Jos in their NPFL clash on Thursday (today) to pay respect to the dead.
Another Plateau United player, Daniel Itodo, also expressed disgust at the killing, insisting the killers should be brought to justice.
“It’s a shame that such still happens and they have not been fished out,” Itodo told The PUNCH.
“I pray for the souls that were lost. It’s a sad time in Plateau at the moment but we hope succour comes to the families who lost lives.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, in a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, condemned the attacks and ordered a manhunt for the killers.
The President condemned the heinous crime and directed security agencies to scout for and apprehend the culprits.
Describing the incident as a “primitive and heinous” attack, Tinubu said, “These envoys of death, pain, and sorrow will not escape justice.”
He also deployed a high-power delegation of well-armed operational forces to the troubled areas to prevent further attacks.
The President in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ngelale, ordered the immediate mobilisation of relief resources for the surviving victims of the cruel attacks as well as medical treatment for the wounded.
The statement read, “President Tinubu directs security agencies to immediately move in, scour every stretch of the zone, and apprehend the culprits.
“The President also directs immediate mobilisation of relief resources for surviving victims of the primitive and cruel attacks as well as a medical treatment for the wounded.”