An unconfirmed number of people, mostly women and children, in Plateau State, north-central Nigeria, now live in pain and agony following the Christmas Eve attacks on communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi.
Development Diaries reports that armed men attacked the communities, setting their houses ablaze and killing over 100 of their loved ones.
The once joyful streets echoed with terrified cries as families were torn apart, and the brutality of the assault marred the serene landscape.
This has led to humanitarian concerns, as medical facilities have been filled up and those who have been displaced are faced with food shortages.
Under regional human rights accords and Nigeria’s constitution, the government is required to uphold the equal protection of everyone’s human rights, including the right to life.
President Bola Tinubu, on assuming office, promised to implement security measures to curb these attacks; however, thus far, these assurances have proven to be hollow. The blatant disregard for the rights of Nigerian citizens by the government is progressively becoming a norm.
It is not enough to just condemn these attacks.
Development Diaries calls on Nigeria’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to collaborate with the government of Plateau State to bring humanitarian support to the survivors of the attacks and the affected communities.
We also call on President Tinubu, who has directed security agencies to scout for and apprehend culprits of the attacks, to ensure a thorough investigation into the attacks is carried out.
Photo source: Amnesty International