Corpses litter Plateau communities 12 days after terror attacks

The ever continuing jihad against Christians (and other non Muslims) in northen Nigeria. From the Punch, the popular Nigerian newspaper.

Twelve days after residents fled Plateau communities in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Mangu Local Government Areas following Christmas Eve attacks by gunmen which left more than 150 persons dead, the affected communities are still deserted, Saturday PUNCH reports.

The PUNCH reports that the killing which had been ongoing in Plateau State worsened on Christmas Eve when gunmen attacked over 25 communities, killing over 150 persons.

Some of the attacked communities are Mangur village, Mbar, Tangur, Bokkos Central, Butura, Mushere.

Our correspondent who visited the affected communities, including Matellem village, Dung village, Yelwa village, Ngyong, observed that the villages were completely deserted.  It was also observed that no security presence was stationed in the affected communities

At Mbar community where a pastor and four of his children and his wife were among those said to have been killed during the attack, Saturday PUNCH  charred remains of other residents who were burnt beyond recognition as their bones  littered the floor of their burnt houses in the community.

A peace advocate, Gideon ParaMallam, who led a team of his Peace Foundation to Bokkos communities to sympathize with the people on Friday expressed concern over the level of devastation in the communities.

Speaking with journalists, ParaMallam said, “We have come here to Bokkos and we have seen and heard from the people. The attacks in Bokkos villages have been very devastating.  .  . That useless narrative that goes around that makes it look as if that it is Bokkos people who have been fighting and killing themselves is a complete fallacy and a lie .Bokkos People are not killing themselves.

“We have talked with them and heard from them and I believe that our visit will not only throw more light on what Bokkos people have gone through but to encourage Nigerians to rise in unison to condemn the terrorism that took place on Christmas eve and right after that . . . ”

The Chairman of Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA,Kefas Mallai told our Correspondent that the protesting women burnt the palace of the paramount (Ruler of Bokkos) because they believe that he has abandoned the people to their fate over the attacks in their communities . He said “The people are angry at the district head of Bokkos and that is why they went and set his house ablaze because they believe he has compromised his duty to speak and protect the people.

“Just yesterday (Thursday), some of the youths who went to look after their burnt communities were arrested by soldiers. The women saw that as unfair and injustice and wanted them to be released as they could not understand why the soldiers would leave terrorists and were arresting people who are victims .And  in  all of these the paramount ruler was nowhere to be found and so they went and burnt his house “

The new Sector Commander of Operation Safe Haven in charge of Bokkos ,Lt Col  Isaac Indiorhwer ,however allayed fears of any fresh attack in the communities and assured  that they were doing everything possible to restore peace in the trouble communities. . . He also dismissed the claim that troops had abandoned the troubled communities.