Plateau Governor declares one-week mourning period after attacks

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has announced a one-week mourning period in response to the recent attacks in the North-Central State.

The past two weeks have seen separate attacks in the state, resulting in approximately 200 casualties and numerous injuries.

During the declaration of the one-week mourning, Governor Mutfwang informed the state’s residents that flags would be flown at half-mast throughout this period.

“As a mark of honour for the memory of the deceased, I wish to declare a week of mourning from January 1st to January 8th, 2024. During this period of mourning, flags will fly at half-mast,” he said in a New Year broadcast.

“I urge all citizens to use these days for intense prayers to seek the intervention of the Almighty God in defending our territories against wicked men that have risen against us.”

The governor also called on religious leaders to offer special prayers for peace in the troubled state.

“I wish to plead with our Muslim clerics to dedicate Friday, January 5th, 2024 and our Christian Clergy to use Sunday, January 7th, 2024 as special prayer days for lasting peace to return to the Plateau,” the governor added.

“Monday 8th January 2024 will be observed as our official state day of mourning.”

The latest attacks in the North-Central State have triggered an outpour of condemnations and calls for a probe into the assaults.

President Bola Tinubu has urged an inquiry into the incidents, with Vice President Kashim Shettima visiting the affected communities.

Bandit militias, entrenched in forest bases, have long terrorized North-West and Central Nigeria, conducting raids on villages to loot and kidnap residents for ransom.

The competition for natural resources, particularly between nomadic herders and farmers, heightened by rapid population growth and climate pressures, has further intensified social tensions, leading to increased violence.