12 days post the exodus of residents from Plateau communities in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu Local Government Areas, triggered by Christmas Eve attacks claiming over 150 lives, the affected areas remain eerily deserted.
The pre-existing violence in Plateau State escalated on Christmas Eve as gunmen targeted more than 25 communities, resulting in the tragic loss of over 150 lives.
In addition, the assailants set numerous houses ablaze, destroying property valued at millions of naira, and forcing over 10,000 individuals into displacement.
Among the targeted communities were Mangur village, Mbar, Tangur, Bokkos Central, Butura, and Mushere.
Reports has it that communities affected, including Matellem village, Dung village, Yelwa village, and Ngyong, was covered in utter emptiness and abandonment of these villages.
The absence of security personnel was evident in the impacted communities, as observed.
Mbar community, where a pastor and his wife, as well as four children, were reportedly among the casualties of the attack, depicted a heartbreaking scene of charred remains and bones littering the floors of their burned residences.
Gideon ParaMallam, a peace advocate, heading a team from his Peace Foundation, visited Bokkos communities on Friday to extend sympathy, expressing deep concern about the extensive devastation witnessed in the communities.
ParaMallam, during his visit, also took the opportunity to connect with internally displaced persons, situated at different sites, including the COCIN Church in Bokkos, delivering vital relief materials to aid them.
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. The loss of lives and the degrading and the degrading of human dignity has been very painful. Our peace foundation came to make a call for peace to appeal to the people of Bokkos for restraints.’
‘We have also come to see things for ourselves so that we can promote the cry for Justice for the people of Bokkos. Our peace foundation believes in peace building that is predicated on justice.’
‘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 only way to bring peace to Bokkos Communities is to return them back to their communities.’
Journalists, who inspected the charred remains of the paramount ruler’s palace in Bokkos around 5 pm on Friday, witnessed thick billowing smoke continuing to emanate from the ravaged structure.
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The palace was under the watchful protection of soldiers who had been deployed to the vicinity.
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It was reported that the paramount ruler and his family members fled the community ahead of the women’s protest, during which his residence was set ablaze.
Kefas Mallai, Chairman of Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, relayed to our correspondent that the women involved in the protest resorted to burning the paramount ruler’s palace, citing their belief that he had abandoned them in the face of attacks on 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 Chairman of Bokkos LGA, Monday Kassam, in an interview, blamed the military for the fresh tension in his area.
He said, ‘When the people who went to look after the attacked communities were arrested by the soldiers, about 10 of them were arrested. I got the information and I called the Commander and told him what was happening and asked that those people should be arrested. They should release them but he did not listen. So, that is the problem but we have been talking to the people so that the issue can be resolved.’
Reports suggest that a new sector commander has been deployed to Bokkos following the recent attacks in the communities.
The newly appointed Sector Commander of Operation Safe Haven in Bokkos, Lt Col Isaac Indiorhwer, reassured residents, dispelling fears of additional attacks in the communities. He affirmed their commitment to taking every necessary action to restore peace in the troubled areas.
The commander addressed the President of Gideon and Funmmi ParaMallam Peace Foundation on Friday during the Foundation’s visit to the Command’s headquarters in Bokkos after conducting a tour of the troubled communities.
He refuted the assertion that troops had deserted the distressed communities, emphasizing their continued presence and commitment to the area’s security.