Christians in Plateau State staged a peaceful protest on Monday, April 21, to honour victims of recent attacks and demand urgent action to end the ongoing violence in the region.
Organised by the Church Denominational Leaders Forum and the Plateau State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the peace walk was both a tribute to the dead and a call for justice amid escalating insecurity across the state.
Participants, including men, women, youths, and the elderly, marched through the streets of Jos carrying placards with messages such as: “That they die not in vain,” “Stop the killings,” and “Every life matters; let Plateau live.” The protest was covered by Channels Television and drew significant public attention.
According to the organisers, the march was in direct response to recent attacks in Ruwi, Hurti, and Zikke communities in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas, where over 100 people were killed in April alone. These attacks mark one of the deadliest episodes of violence in the state since the 2023 Christmas Eve massacre that claimed more than 150 lives.
Plateau and neighbouring Benue State have witnessed a resurgence of deadly attacks in recent weeks, largely attributed to armed herdsmen and bandits. In Benue’s Ukum and Logo LGAs, at least 56 people were killed over the weekend in similar attacks.
Describing the situation as genocidal, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang said more than 60 communities in the state have been overrun by heavily armed invaders. He called for immediate intervention from the federal government to halt the killings and reclaim occupied territories.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia also appealed to the federal government for swift and decisive action to restore peace.
The violence coincided with the Easter season, a period of peace and reflection for Christians, which was instead marked by mourning in several Middle Belt communities.
In his Easter message from Paris, President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks, stating that “forces of evil will never prevail over our country.” He disclosed that he had issued strong directives to the Armed Forces and security agencies to take decisive action against perpetrators.
The crisis has also drawn national criticism. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused the Tinubu administration of “utter incompetence” and lacking empathy in the face of ongoing killings. Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, echoed similar concerns, urging the government to collaborate with traditional rulers for grassroots-level solutions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, meanwhile, urged Nigerians to put aside political, ethnic, and religious differences and embrace unity and peace during the Easter season.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed all state police commissioners to step up patrols, enhance intelligence gathering, and increase security presence, especially around places of worship and public spaces.
The Nigeria Police also called on citizens to support security efforts by providing credible and timely information to prevent further attacks.
Edited by Nzubechukwu Eze
