JOS- France and the United States of America have both condemned Christmas Eve attacks across Plateau communities that left at least 162 persons dead, scores injured and over 34,000 persons displaced.
Amid increasing number of casualties on Thursday, both countries called for investigation and arrest of perpetrators, while assuring Nigeria of their support.
“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria,” in a tweet on Thursday, “condemns the recent attacks in Plateau State and expresses heartfelt condolences for the tragic loss of life. It is imperative that those responsible for these heinous attacks are held accountable.”
Similarly, in a statement on its website, “France utterly condemns the attacks carried out over the past several days on several villages in Plateau State, located in central Nigeria, which resulted in a large number of casualties.
“France calls for the identification and prosecution of the perpetrators of these attacks, and assures the Nigerian authorities of its full support.”
Peoples Gazette, on Monday, reported that over 112 were killed and 47 were injured as armed herdsmen in coordinated attacks on at least 12 communities spanning Barkin Ladi and Bokkos council areas on Christmas Eve.
However, the number of casualties has hit 195 as of Thursday as more bodies are recovered.
President Bola Tinubu has condemned the killings, while ordering investigation into it and directing that relief material be provided for displaced families, survivors and families of victims in the affected communities.
The massacres across villages in Plateau have elicited outrage from Nigerians who berated the government for failing in delivering on its core responsibility of protecting lives and properties of citizens.
Amnesty International, a human rights organisation, on Monday evening, condemned the Christmas Eve attacks on Plateau State, berating Mr Tinubu for brazenly failing to protect communities in the state and Nigeria at large.
