Police arrest eight suspects over Plateau Christmas Eve killings

Following the Christmas Eve attacks in December 2023 in some communities of Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi, and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State, light appears to be shining brightly and quickly. Eight suspected individuals are currently being held by the police in connection with the attacks, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 200 people.

This was stated on Thursday by the state's police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, who added that the suspects had been detained in a number of locations.

Officers were dispatched to the North-Central State by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun in response to the events.

“Concerning the Inspector General of Police’s deployment, we have been getting tremendous success from that process,” the Plateau police spokesman said.

“It would also interest you to know that seven persons, in fact as of the last count, there are now eight of them under investigation in our custody and they have been moved to the state CID where the AIG Zone 4 and the commissioner of police are overseeing the affairs of the operation and also the investigation.”

Both domestically and internationally, people condemned the Christmas Eve attack. An investigation into the incidents was ordered by President Bola Tinubu. A call for "united efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for these heinous acts" was also made by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

Vice President Kashim Shettima paid the people of North-Central State a visit to express his sympathies.

During the visit, Shettima appealed to the residents to  “resist the temptation to succumb to sectional divisions or the poisonous rhetoric of hatred towards your fellow citizens, as we pursue justice to ensure your security”.

Bandit militias that operate from bases deep in forests and raid villages to loot and kidnap residents for ransom have long terrorised North-West and Central Nigeria.

Intensified by climate pressures and rapid population growth, the competition for natural resources between farmers and nomadic herders has also sparked violence and exacerbated social tensions.

Source