The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Mathew Kukah, has emphasized that the recent killings in Plateau state go beyond herder-farmer clashes, stating that the perpetrators have a specific vision for Nigeria based on their ideology.
Kukah, commenting on the Christmas Eve attack that resulted in over 200 casualties and extensive destruction in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, urged the federal government to resist the agenda of the assailants and safeguard the Nigerian populace. He condemned the attackers as “sons of Satan” who deliberately sought to extinguish the joy of Christmas for thousands of people on the Plateau.
Highlighting the calculated nature of the violence, Kukah pointed to the strategic choice of locations, communities, and timings, as well as the concealed identities of the assailants. He called attention to the ongoing war against the Nigerian state and its people, emphasizing the need to address the underlying issues and potential long-term plans to seize power.
Kukah raised crucial questions about the identity, origin, sponsorship, grievances, and motives of the killers. He asserted that these acts were not merely conflicts over grazing fields but part of a broader agenda aimed at reshaping the future of Nigeria according to the perpetrators’ ideology.
The bishop stressed the urgency of rebuilding affected communities, emphasizing that it goes beyond physical infrastructure to include strategies for rebuilding community cohesion and resilience. He also called for a reset of the national security architecture, expressing discontent with intelligence failures and advocating for transparency in investigations to build public confidence.
In conclusion, Kukah underscored the need to confront the evolving threat and emphasized that the culture of investigation as excuses must end, advocating for accountability through publicizing investigations and implementing appropriate rewards or punishments.
