Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has proclaimed a one-week mourning period to pay tribute to the memory of the 400 individuals who lost their lives between April and June 2023, as well as the more than 160 victims of the recent Christmas Eve attacks. In a statewide broadcast on New Year’s Day, the governor conveyed that flags would be flown at half-mast throughout the mourning period. He encouraged all citizens to dedicate these days to fervent prayers, seeking divine intervention against the wicked forces that have targeted the state.
The mourning period is set to commence from January 1 to 8, 2024. Governor Mutfwang appealed to Muslim clerics to observe special prayers on Friday, January 5, 2024, while urging Christian clergy to designate Sunday, January 7, 2024, for prayers focused on lasting peace for the Plateau.
Governor Mutfwang emphasised that the unprovoked and coordinated attacks on villages were premeditated acts of criminality, insurgency, and terrorism. He asserted that addressing these incidents as such is crucial for successfully halting the senseless destruction of lives and property.