Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has said that the latest series of attacks in the state were cases of terrorism and not farmer-herder clashes.
In his New Year message, Governor Mutfwang described the recent attacks on communities in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government area of the state as Christmas genocide.
He wrote: “I welcome you to 2024, our year of hope in the midst of conflict, our year of deliverance, restoration and progress. While it is true that we ended the year 2023 on a sad note because of the many precious lives we lost including but not limited to over 400 between April and June, 2023 as well as the over 160 in the recent Christmas genocide.
“These unprovoked and simultaneous attacks in different villages were clearly premeditated and coordinated. These series of attacks on our people are a clear case of criminality, insurgency and terrorism and must be seen and handled in that manner if we must succeed in halting this wanton destruction of lives and property.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is a misrepresentation of facts to describe these needless and unprovoked attacks on our people as a Farmer-Herder clash as has always been the traditional narrative. Let us call a spade a spade, this is simple genocide.”