Pope Speaks On Plateau Killings

Pope Francis has just added to the local and worldwide attention that the murder of over 200 lives by ruthless marauders in rural villages in Plateau State has received.

Let’s join in prayer for the victims of the horrific violence that occurred in the Plateau State of Nigeria. God save Nigeria from these atrocities! The pontiff from Argentina stated on Sunday on X (previously Twitter).

Together, let’s #PrayForTheVictims of the horrific violence that has befallen Nigeria’s Plateau State. God save Nigeria from these atrocities! Let’s also offer prayers for the victims of the Liberian tanker truck disaster.

The octogenarian also prayed for “people who suffer because of war: the martyred Ukrainian people, the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, the Sudanese people, the martyred Rohingya, and many others. May those with a stake in these conflicts listen to the voice of their conscience”.

Dark-hearted assailants conducted blood-curling simultaneous attacks on communities in the Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of the Plateau State on Christmas eve.

The attacks have so far claimed over 200 lives with hundreds of houses and farmlands burnt. That the assailants were not repelled by security agents irked many Nigerians.

As usual, the government and the military have condemned the attack and made a few promises after well-publicised trips to the state but sturdy voices in Northern Nigeria like the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, has scolded the government and the military over failure to protect the people on the Plateau who continued to suffer recurring aggression from marauders.