President of the Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, Revd Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, has blamed the Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau state on the tragic manipulation of a nine-year-old boy.
According to Para-Mallam, the boy was manipulated by the heavily armed attackers leading to the devastating massacre in Chirang village, Plateau State, on December 24.
He noted that the attackers had assured the boy of his safety if he took them to the villagers hideout.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, Para-Mallam also the experience of a survivor.
Recounting her experience, a woman who narrowly survived the incident by falling into a ditch, her son, Regard Yusuf, was deceived into leading the attackers to the place where she was hiding.
“This act of treachery resulted in the murder of 23 women, including Regard and his mother,” the Para-Mallam said.
He further revealed the chilling details of how the young boy was given false assurances about his safety before being killed alongside his mother.
Among the deceased were also Veronica Mallan and her nine-month-old child, Godwin Mallan.
“The attacks have left a trail of severe injuries. A three-year-old child lies critically ill in the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) after being shot at close range, and a five-year-old girl is also receiving care at JUTH after her hand was brutally severed by attackers,” the statement added.
The Foundation strongly condemned the attacks, labeling them as a deliberate act of genocide rather than a simple conflict between farmers and herders.
It also highlighted the loss of public figures such as Hon. Sabo Abang, who was kidnapped on the same night and later found dead near his home.
Para-Mallam extended his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, and all affected Nigerians.
He criticized the tendency to misrepresent the violence as a mere clash and called out the Federal Government for its inadequate response to the crisis.
The statement emphasized the urgent need for proactive measures rather than the current reactive military responses.
It pointed out that even during a visit by a Presidential Team that included Vice President Kashim Shettima and National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the violence continued unabated, with more villages coming under attack.
The silence of the international community and the lack of strong collective action within Nigeria were also questioned in the statement, which urged for a united stance against terrorism in the Middle-belt region.
Para-Mallam appealed for a concerted effort to achieve sustainable peace and end the bloodshed in Plateau State. He reiterated that only decisive action, not politicization, can lead to true peace and security for the region’s inhabitants.
