Fatalities from Plateau violence rise to 33 amid demonstrations that delay funerals

Tension engulfed the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State yesterday, as the death toll from the Palm Sunday attack climbed to 33, sparking widespread outrage and grief.

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Angry women and youths took to the streets, staging a protest that disrupted the mass burial of victims at the ECWA Church, as emotions ran high and frustrations boiled over.

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In a separate incident, a 300-level university student was ambushed and killed by gunmen in Dum Village, Bachi District of Riyom Local Government Area of the state, further exacerbating the sense of insecurity.

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Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Stephen Pwajok, and the member representing Barkin Ladi Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Dickson Chollom, are demanding a thorough investigation into the suspect arrested over the deadly attack on Pommwol village in Barkin Ladi.

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The suspect must face the full wrath of the law, according to Pwajok and Chollom, who are pushing for justice to be served in the wake of the brutal attack.

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The funeral service at the ECWA Church turned chaotic when protesters gathered outside, demanding the immediate release of three youths arrested by the military in connection with the incident.

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Chief of Staff to the Plateau State Governor, Jeremiah Satmak, confirmed that the death toll had risen to 33, with some victims succumbing to their injuries in hospital after the initial toll stood at 28.

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Satmak assured bereaved families that the government is working tirelessly to unravel the motive behind the killings and bring an end to the violence on the Plateau, vowing that the attack would not succeed in breaking the community's unity.

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The government is making efforts to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, Satmak said, while urging residents to remain vigilant and prayerful in the face of recurring violence.

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Satmak also announced that the three youths arrested in connection with the attack had been released, in a move aimed at easing tensions and addressing the concerns of the protesting community.

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Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Plateau State chapter, Rev. Gomwalk Dunkan, emphasized that sustainable peace can only be achieved through justice, stressing that government must ensure that justice is served for lasting peace to return.

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Rev. Dunkan's words were echoed by the women and youths who protested earlier, carrying placards and vowing not to allow the burial to proceed until the arrested youths were freed.

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The protesters alleged that the youths were unjustly picked up while merely holding sticks, and that the real attackers remained at large, fueling perceptions of injustice and delay in the pursuit of justice.

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The protest reflected the growing frustration among residents over recurring violence and perceived delays in justice, as the community struggles to come to terms with the latest attack.