Christians in Plateau State staged a peace walk on Monday, April 21, in response to renewed attacks and a rising death toll across communities in the region.
The demonstration was organised under the leadership of the Church Denominational Leaders Forum and the Plateau State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). It served both as a protest against the violence and a tribute to the many lives lost.
Men, women, the elderly, and youths took to the streets in a solemn but powerful procession, expressing frustration over the ongoing bloodshed in the state. The crowd carried banners with inscriptions such as, “That they die not in vain,” “Stop the killings,” “Stop the bloodshed,” and “Every life matters; let Plateau live.”
The march was triggered by a series of brutal attacks in the communities of Ruwi, Hurti, and Zikke in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas, where dozens were killed.
Violence has recently intensified in Plateau and neighbouring Benue State, with most of the attacks blamed on armed bandits. In April alone, over 100 people were reported killed in Bokkos and Bassa, marking one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence since the 2023 Christmas Eve massacre that claimed around 150 lives in Bokkos.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the killings as genocidal, revealing that the attackers, heavily armed, have seized over 60 communities, displacing thousands of residents. He called on the federal government to act urgently to stop the bloodshed and reclaim the occupied lands.
In Benue State, a similar pattern of violence played out over the weekend, with 56 people killed in attacks on Ukum and Logo local government areas. Governor Hyacinth Alia also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to take decisive steps to restore security in the region.
The attacks occurred during the Easter period, a season meant for peace and reflection. But for many in the Middle Belt, this year’s celebration was overshadowed by grief and loss.