The United States and France have joined the growing chorus of international condemnation of last week’s massacre of over 140 people in the Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi local government areas of Plateau State.
US Mission in Nigeria, in a short condolence message on X (formerly Twitter) described the incident on Christmas Eve as tragic, saying that those responsible be held accountable.
“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria 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,” the message read.
The French government also issued a strongly worded message condemning the attacks and killings. In a condolence message released through the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the French government condemned the attacks and killings, called for the identification and prosecution of the perpetrators, and assured the Nigerian government of its full support
“France utterly condemns the attacks carried out over the past several days on several villages in Plateau State, 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,” it stated.
Last week, gunmen attacked remote villages in north-central Nigeria’s Plateau state, killing at least 140 people. The assailants targeted 17 communities, burning down most houses in the area. There were fears of a higher death toll as some people remained unaccounted for. Some of the locals said that it took more than 12 hours before security agencies responded to their calls for help.
No group took responsibility for the attacks, although blame fell on herders from the Fulani tribe, who have been accused of carrying out such mass killings across the northwest and central regions where the decades-long conflict over access to land and water has further worsened the sectarian division between Christians and Muslims in Africa’s most populous nation.
