Tension rose in Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State yesterday as angry women protested the planned mass burial of unclaimed victims of the Palm Sunday deadly attack.
This is as the death toll in the Palm Sunday massacre hits 33. At the initial stage 28 bodies were counted dead.
At the ECWA Church where the funeral service for the victims were held, the worshipers were astonished when they learnt of the five new victims, who gave up the ghost while receiving treatment.
This further fueled the anger of the women who demanded that the arrested Youths must be released before any burial could take place.
However, their anger was assuaged by pleadings from youth leaders and government representatives
Chief of Staff to the Plateau State Governor, Jeremiah Satmak, who represented the government, confirmed the rise in casualties.
He said some victims died in hospital after the initial toll of 28.
Satmak further confirmed that the three youths arrested in connection with the attack had been released. This elicited wild jubilation at the funeral service, further making the women to shield their swords.
“Government is working tirelessly to unravel the motive behind these killings and bring an end to the violence on the Plateau.
This attack was meant to break our unity, but it will not succeed,” Satmak said.
He assured bereaved families that efforts were ongoing to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, while urging residents to remain vigilant and prayerful.
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State chapter, Rev. Gomwalk Dunkan, stressed that sustainable peace could only be achieved through justice.
“There can be no peace without justice. Government must ensure that justice is served for lasting peace to return,” he said.
The mass burial was for unidentified victims and those not claimed by their relatives.
As early as 7 am, the women lined the streets as the bodies were conveyed to the primary school for protesting against alleged arrest of some youths in the community.
The protesting women, carrying leaves and chanting songs to stop the planned mass burial, joined by some youths, who locked the entrance of the church where the mass burial was scheduled.
Chaotic scene was also created at Gwong Primary school along Old Lamingo (Eto-Baba) Road where a pastor in a local church, who was supposed to hold funeral service for his father was prevented from doing so.
Peter Makenzie, a member of Angwan Rukuba Community alleged that the youths, arrested by the army last Wednesday days after the Sunday night attack, were picked up while sitting in front of their homes.
Their return to the church brought relief to protesters and mourners as they were formally presented to youth leaders.
It was only after confirming their release that the aggrieved youths allowed the corpses of the victims to be moved out of the church for burial.
The development helped calm tensions and paved the way for the continuation of the funeral rites.
In a related development, herders community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State has condemned the killing of one of its members, Abubakar Habane, describing the incident as a brutal and unprovoked attack.
It was gathered that the deceased, a resident of Ngelgagare, was killed in the early hours of Monday, at about 7a.m., near the riverside in Tanjol, Jol Ward of Riyom LGA.
According to a statement signed by the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria ( MACBAN) Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo the victim had gone out with his brother, Saidu Shehu, to tend to his calf when they were allegedly ambushed by more than 30 armed youths
Habane was killed in the attack, while his brother narrowly escaped with his life.
The community expressed deep sorrow and grief over the incident, describing it as “senseless and unprovoked” and highlighting the continued vulnerability of herders in the area.
The group called on security agencies to immediately launch a thorough investigation into the killing and bring all those responsible to justice.
They also urged the Plateau State Government to take urgent steps to protect all citizens irrespective of ethnic or religious background, and appealed to community leaders and stakeholders to promote peaceful coexistence and de-escalate tensions.
The community further appealed to its members and the general public to remain calm and law-abiding, stressing that justice should be sought through lawful means.
“The continuous loss of innocent lives must come to an end. Peace, justice, and fairness remain the only path to lasting stability in Riyom LGA and Plateau State at large,” the statement added.
The peace of Palm Sunday was shattered on March 29 when suspected bandits, attacked the Gari Ya Waye area of Angwan Rukuba on Palm Sunday night, killing over 28 people and injuring several others.
The attackers stormed the densely populated community around 7:30 pm and opened fire indiscriminately on residents.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had visited Plateau State last week following the attack, commiserated with the victims’ families and directed security agencies to arrest the perpetrators.
He also ordered the installation of over 5,000 Artificial Intelligence-enabled CCTV cameras across the state to enhance 24-hour surveillance and combat insecurity.
