Women from the Bin-Per community in Ruff, Kombun District, Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, held a peaceful protest on Tuesday in response to the massacre of 24 people by terrorists.
The protest occurred while the fatalities were given a mass burial in the neighborhood, while several more injured in the attack were being treated in hospitals.
The women, who turned out in large numbers, clutched leaves as they marched through the hamlet, grieving the killings and demanding immediate government action to safeguard inhabitants.
The demonstration came after a nighttime raid in which armed men allegedly invaded homes in the hamlet and killed individuals.
Mrs. Ladi Joshua, one of the demonstrators, revealed that the ladies had been heartbroken by the deaths of their husbands, children, relatives, and other community members.
Holding leaves above their heads, the women voiced their anguish over the bloodshed and urged a halt to the reoccurring attacks in the town and around Plateau State.
Speaking at the burial ceremony for the victims on Tuesday, Kyesmang Jonathan, President of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement, said 24 persons had been buried as a result of the attack.
He added several of the injured victims were still being treated in hospitals as the community dealt with the consequences of the attack.
Jonathan highlighted the killings as a devastating loss for the community and decried the ongoing attacks on innocent individuals.
He urged the government and security authorities to take immediate action to protect vulnerable populations and avoid further loss of life.
The youth leader also expressed condolences to the relatives of the deceased and sympathy for the injured and displaced citizens and urged the government to identify and prosecute those guilty for the killings.
Meanwhile, Jude Eli Dakur, secretary of the African Democratic Congress in Plateau State, condemned the attack, calling it brutal, senseless, and unacceptable.
Dakur expressed sadness for the deaths and devastation of homes, farmlands, and property in the neighborhood.
He described the death of citizens, particularly those who were attacked while sleeping in their houses, as a severe assault on human life that should not be tolerated in Plateau State.
He expressed condolences to the families of the slain, the injured, and displaced citizens, as well as the people of Mangu, particularly those in Bin-Per and Kombun Districts.
Dakur asked security authorities to mobilize swiftly and track down the criminals, emphasizing the importance of identifying, arresting, and bringing those responsible to justice.
He also advocated for increased information gathering and surveillance in vulnerable groups across Mangu and the rest of the state.
He believes that appropriate security personnel should be posted to vulnerable communities, as well as strong rapid-response protocols that allow security authorities to respond quickly to distress calls.
Dakur said the new attack was particularly alarming considering the state’s ongoing security issues and that civilians should not be left to defend themselves against armed assailants.
He asked the federal government, the Plateau State government, and security agencies to work together more closely to improve security and restore local confidence.
Dakur also urged locals to be watchful and report suspicious movements and activities to security authorities while avoiding actions that could exacerbate tensions.
He called for peace and unity among the people of Mangu and expressed solidarity with the affected communities.
“On behalf of my family, supporters, and the people who share our vision for a good, peaceful, and prosperous Plateau, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and to the entire Mangu community.
“We mourn with you. We stand with you. We condemn this senseless violence and call on the security agencies to urgently go after the perpetrators and ensure that justice is served.
“Every life lost is precious, and no community should live under the constant fear of attack. The people of Mangu deserve to live, farm, and carry out their legitimate activities in peace and a secure environment,” he said.
