Christians in Plateau State conducted a peaceful walk on Monday, April 21 in response to new attacks and the rising death toll in communities in the area.
The demonstration was organized under the leadership of the Church Denomination Leaders Forum and the Plateau State Branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). It is both a protest against violence and a tribute to many lives that have been killed.
Men, women, elderly and young men took to the streets in a solemn but powerful parade, frustrated by the bloodshed ongoing in the state. The crowds were carrying banners with inscriptions such as “They did not die in vain”, “Stop killing,” “Stop bloodshed” and “Every life is important; let the plateau live”.
The march was triggered by a series of brutal attacks in the communities of Ruwi, Hurti and Zikke, where dozens of people were killed in Bokkos and Barcelona local government areas.
Violence has recently intensified in the plateau and adjacent Benu states, with most of the attacks being blamed on armed bandits. In April alone, more than 100 people in Bokkos and Bassa have been reported to have been killed since the Christmas Eve massacre in 2023, one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence that took about 150 people from Bokkos.
Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the killings as genocide, showing that attackers were armed and had occupied more than 60 communities and displaced thousands of residents. He called on the federal government to take urgent action to stop the bloodshed and regain the occupied land.
In Benue state, similar patterns of violence occurred over the weekend, with 56 people killed in attacks on Ukum and the logo local government areas. Hyacinth Governor Alia also called on President Bola Tinubu to take decisive steps to restore security in the region.
The attack took place during Easter, a season for peace and reflection. But for many in the middle, this year’s celebrations are overshadowed by sorrow and loss.
