A prominent Human Rights organization, Amnesty International, strongly criticized the Nigerian government led by President Bola Tinubu for its alleged failure to protect Plateau State communities, following the Christmas Eve attacks that resulted in over 70 casualties and numerous injuries. The organization, in a statement shared on its official X account on December 25, 2023, condemned the government’s inability to address the recurring deadly assaults on rural communities in Plateau State and beyond. Amnesty International’s estimated death toll of over 70 underscores the severity of the attacks.
This is as the organization berates the Nigerian authorities for their apparent inability to curb the escalating violence. The statement emphasized that the failure to protect citizens is becoming alarmingly commonplace, despite President Bola Tinubu’s assurances of implementing Security measures in response to such incidents. “The brazen failure of the authorities to protect the people of Nigeria is gradually becoming the ‘norm.’ President Bola Tinubu said he will enact security measures in response to these attacks, but these promises have — so far — proven to be empty,” Amnesty International asserted.
Call for tangible efforts against the assailants.
The human rights organization went beyond mere condemnation, urging President Tinubu’s government to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the Christmas Eve attacks, with a clear directive to bring the perpetrators to justice. The call for action emphasizes the need for tangible efforts beyond verbal assurances. “Nigerian authorities must impartially and effectively investigate these attacks. President Bola Tinubu @officialABAT must do more than merely condemn these horrific attacks. Suspected perpetrators must be promptly brought to justice,” the organization demanded.
According to a media report, the coordinated attacks by armed Herdsmen on at least 12 communities across Barkin Ladi and Bokkos council areas resulted in over 112 deaths and 47 injuries. The assailants reportedly made separate entries and carried out brutal attacks on the communities throughout the Christmas Eve period. “The attack started on Saturday evening when the herdsmen made separate entries and started butchering people and continued until midnight on Sunday,” revealed by a security source under anonymity, emphasizing the severity and sustained nature of the assault.
Questions about transparency raised by government actions.
Further, the source also expressed concern over the assailants’ capacity, questioning how they obtained the sophisticated equipment used in the attacks. However, as of the time of reporting, President Bola Tinubu’s government had not issued an official statement addressing the incident. Bayo Onanuga, a media aide to the Tinubu government, was contacted for comment on Amnesty International’s criticisms, but he declined to respond to new correspondents’ inquiry. The lack of an official response from the government adds to the mounting concerns and criticisms from both local and international observers.
Of course, the gravity of the attacks, coupled with the absence of a timely government statement, raises questions about the transparency and effectiveness of the government’s response to such crises. Amnesty International’s condemnation serves as a stark reminder of the urgency required in addressing the security challenges facing Plateau State and the broader Nigerian landscape. The organization’s call for a comprehensive investigation and swift justice underscores the need for tangible actions to prevent future occurrences and restore confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
Masses anticipates government response after the attacks.
As the situation unfolds, the eyes of both the Nigerian public and the international community remain fixed on President Bola Tinubu’s government, awaiting a meaningful response and concrete measures to address the security lapses that have led to the tragic events on Christmas Eve in Plateau State. The Middle Belt in Nigeria has been ravaged by relentless massacres, with communities in different local council development areas experiencing tragic violence, leaving a trail of devastation and loss.
