Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has declared one-week mourning period as a mark of honour to the memory of the 400 persons who lost their lives between April and June 2023 as well as the over 160 killed in the recent Christmas Eve attacks.
The governor, who made the declaration in his statewide broadcast on New Year Day yesterday, said during the period of mourning, flags will fly at half-mast and urged all citizens to use these days for intense prayers to seek the intervention of the Almighty God in defending their territories and against wicked men that have risen against the state.
He also said the mourning period will start from January 1 – 8 ,2024 even as he pleaded with Muslim clerics to dedicate Friday, January 5, 2024, and Christian clergy to use Sunday, January 7, 2024, as special prayer days for lasting peace to return to the Plateau.
The governor said the unprovoked and simultaneous attacks in villages were clearly premeditated and coordinated.
“These series of attacks on our people are a clear case of criminality, insurgency and terrorism and must be seen and handled in that manner if we must succeed in halting this wanton destruction of lives and property.”