The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday heard how how gunmen who attacked Plateau communities on Christmas Eve killed 148 persons in Bokkos Local Government Area alone.
Shettima was in Bokkos on Wednesday following the attacks which spread across three Local Government Areas of the state including Barkin Ladi and Mangu .
He was accompanied by several other dignatries including the National Security Adviser,Nuhu Ribadu .
Addressing the delegation at the Bokkos Township Stadium filled with displaced persons ,The Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area ,Monday Kassam said ” It is with deep feelings in my heart that I stand now to recount a little of the ordeal .
In Mangur village,53 killed ; Mbar 26;Tangur4; Bokkos Central 31;Butura 33; Mushere 1. In all 148 innocent Bokkos villagers were massacred unprovoked in their cold blood .25 Communities were affected and 1290 homes were burnt down .81 vehicles ,187 motorcycles,267 water pumps were also burnt while 88 persons are receiving treatments of serious injuries”
The Council Chairman added that from the humongous number of casualties and other intelligence ,the attackers were well coordinated by the assailants because all the 25 Communities were attacked simultaneously .
Plateau state Governor ,Caleb Mutfwang said he had briefed President Bola Tinubu over the attacks and killings in the state .
He noted that the attacks and killings were unprovoked and uncalled for pointing out that there were not done by ghosts but human beings .
Calling on the federal government to fish out the perpetrators,the governor appealed to the media to reports what is happening in Plateau state with facts and accuracy without fabrication
“Yesterday ,when I was speaking ,I said during the last federal government ,there was lack of political will to deal with is issue .I never accused the present government of lack of political will.And today ,the visit of the Vice President is a demonstration of the political will of the present government to deal with the situation .I have discussed at length with Mr President and there are many decisions we have agreed and i will not rest until these decision are implemented “, Mutfwang said .
The Vice President who expressed sadness over the killings described the attacks as “indescribable”
He said the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu was deeply troubled by the incident which had shattered the joy of Christmas .
He commiserated with the people promising that the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu would do everything possible to stop further terror attacks and killings in the state .
He noted what had happened to the people of Plateau state affected other Nigerians saying “Our hearts bleed alongside our dear brothers and sisters in Bokkos ,Barkin Ladi and all over Plateau state “
Shettima who reminded the people that President Bola Tinubu came to power to address the challenges facing the country assured Plateau that the decade old crisis in the state would not persist under their watch.
“We will harness all the resources to bring those responsible to justice .We will not quit until we are able to prevent the reoccurrence of this heinous acts”,the Vice President added.
