Protest rocks Plateau over mass killing

Christians from across Plateau State on Easter Monday protested in Jos, the state capital, over the recent killings in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas, which claimed about 100 lives and led to destruction of property.

The Christians, under the aegis of Church Leaders Denominational Forum on the Plateau, were mostly dressed in black and matched from the old government house in Rayfield to the new government house in Little Rayfield.

While in Little Rayfield, they presented their protest letter to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, through the state Governor, Caleb Mutfwang.

The letter was signed by COCIN President and Chairman Denominational Leaders’ Forum Plateau State, Rev. Dr. Amos Mohzo; Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman Plateau State, Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo and the Secretary Denominational Leaders’ Forum Plateau State, who doubles as the President Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, Rev. Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam.

The Church Denominational Leaders Forum on the Plateau strongly condemns the unprovoked, horrific, barbaric, and persistent attacks on innocent communities in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

“The recent wave of violence perpetrated by these terrorists has resulted in the cold-blooded murder of over 50 innocent civilians in Bokkos alone, including defenseless women and children.

These unconscionable acts of brutality represent a grievous violation of human rights and a stain on our national conscience.

“Your Excellency, Sir, Christians today have come out in large numbers to once again demonstrate our unity as we grieve in righteous indignation. We have done so peacefully.

“We protest these renewed killings as a mark of honour for the dead, a call to end all killings by armed men and other killers operating in all states in Nigeria, and to cry out for justice.

“We invited every Christian on the Plateau to come out en masse for this solemn but powerful procession as we demonstrate our pain, yet firm hope in a better future,” the letter partly read.

It further said the group acknowledged and welcomed the strong statement by President Tinubu on April 5th, 2025, condemning the heinous attacks on communities in Bokkos.

In the statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring the safety of all citizens on the Plateau.

In his response, Governor Mutfwang thanked the protesters for their peaceful protest and said the time has come “when every Nigerian and every human being of conscience must rise up and say enough is enough to the killings which is almost two decades now.”

He assured the protesters that he is working closely with the president to halt the killings, so peace could return to the affected communities.