PBAT: Are Christians in Nigeria Safe in 2024 Christmas?

By Bolaji O. Akinyemi.

The 7th of December 2024 was 348 days from the terror killings that started on the 24th to the 26th December 2023; this is just 15 days to the completion of the circle of 365 days to make a year of the criminal killings on the Plateau are yet to abate!
A confirmed report has it that three (03) people that were killed were traveling from Marish village to Maikatako after a marriage ceremony. The names of the people killed were given as; Mr Elisha Ayuba a motorcycle rider, a man in his mid-forties; Mrs Amanta Sunday whose age was given as 46 years old and the 3rd victim was Mrs Ushukon who was about forty years of age. The incident was said to have occurred at about 5:00 PM on the fateful day. The victims were traveling on a Bajaj brand motorcycle when they were attacked and killed and the assailants made away with the motorcycle!

6th of December 2024, was not in any way different; the wellbeing of Mrs Christiana Isaac Mahwash’s home became the scene of carnage that sniffed life out of her. Born on the 23rd of November 1966, she had her life taken on 6th of December 2024, at the age of 58. She was said to be the senior sister of the Protocol Officer to the Executive Governor of Plateau State. She was killed in her house on the night of Friday 6th December 2024 and was buried on Tuesday the 10th December 2024.

Terror killings on Christmas day in Nigeria began on the 25th of December 2011 at the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madala, Niger State, near Abuja. The political narrative of describing criminal killings targeted at Christians, their places of worship and the festival of Christmas as insecurity is nothing but an insult to our sensibilities! What is going on is nothing but a genocide!

As we approach another Christmas 10 days from 15th December, the question to ask the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is, how safe are Christians in Nigeria under his command, especially during Christmas 2024?!
This question became necessary having observed that the killings between December 2023 and this December 2024 have continued, though the strategy has changed. While it was generally reported that about 300 people were killed between 24th and 26th December 2023, we may have to rely on the State Government to provide the statistics of those who have been killed under the new strategy of road ambushes, attacks on the farm and at homes of individuals between last December and now.

However, I can provide the statistics for the period of my visit to the State between Tuesday the 27th day of August 2024 and 10th of September 2024. On Tuesday 27th August 2024 the news of a certain man, Maran Mammwan, found on the bush path unconscious and rushed down to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) where he later died on Sunday, 1st September 2024 filtered to me like a welcome message to a death zone!
Another man, Abwai Musa was also attacked a day after, on Wednesday 28th August 2024, one of his hands was cut off and he was pierced in the head, he died on the way while being rushed to the hospital. During a burial preparation for James Maran Mammwan, his family was hit again and lost two youthful kinsmen, Mbarka and Charlie on 2nd September 2024. While still mourning, another attack occurred on Tuesday, 3rd September 2024 resulting in the death of six (6) youths, Gbiang Kenneth Alphonsus, Mafai Christian John, Mashat Labaran Sule, Mashumburu Mangai John, Abwai Mador Mapak, Agiliu Gambo. Shalom Enoch Amallam attacked along with the Daffo 6, sustained severe injuries, but was revived to life at JUTH.
Your Excellency, though I am concerned about the dead, I am rather more troubled about the survivors of those criminal killings; they were traumatized by such spate of killings, and, their trauma is further complicated by living in the fear of the possibility of another attack.
Sir, a little boy asked the question, would there be Christmas this year or would it be another day of killing? Sir, with tears in my eyes, I assured him that, by the grace of God, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not allow affliction to rise the second time. I promised him on your honour that I will get him an answer from you which I will deliver to him and other children at our Christmas retreat party, tagged ChristMaX, scheduled for 22nd December 2024 for the kids of Bokkos IDP. Sir, this time last year, many of this children lived in expectation of a fun filled Christmas. While we may not be able to restore lives to some of their parents who were lost to the criminal killings, a restoration of honour to the festival of the Christian faith so horribly dishonoured last year will be a good way to show your humanity towards us.

C-in-C Sir, local intelligence had pointed to a looming terror attack in the highly economic farming communities of Plateau State. You can of course imagine what this portends for our nation at this very challenging time!
Armed non-state acting terror militia, foreign or domestic, in challenge of the Sovereignty of the Nigerian Country and your authority as our C-in-C must not be allowed to continue! Invasion of unarmed law abiding citizens in their communities is a slap on the authority of your Government! You can’t afford another such dirty slap this year’s festive period!
The situation is the same in all Local Government Areas affected by the criminal killings, whether Bokkos, Barkin Ladi or Riyom; but let me give you a report of Mangu, the Local Government Area of the Executive Governor of Plateau State who apparently is the Chief Security Officer of the state holding brief for you, to give you a clear picture of the fate of LGAs not thus privileged like that of the Governor.
21 communities affected are out of their homes with no land to till for farming. Your citizens, and indeed potential voters, they are surviving from hand to mouth. Sustained security threats is an indicator that people are still being killed and trauma can be tangibly felt in conversation with your citizens! There have been attacks recently in Kantoma, Murish, Mairana. One soul was lost this last Wednesday, 11th December 2024.
The obvious needs of the people are the security of farmlands and empowerment to enable them get back to economic productivity and contribute their quota to National Development. Only a few people are remaining in the IDP camps as many joined their families and some moved to uncompleted buildings in Mijinyawa and Pilot primary schools.

The purpose of a Christian Senate President which you canvassed for, and, it made His Excellency Godswill Akpabio, I hope is not defeated. The privilege of that office to appoint legislative Aides from all Local Government Areas is grossly abused. You can bet Sir, that the Legislatitive Aides for Mangu may be from Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Sir, since the office of the Senate President is cut off from the plight of his Christian brothers and sisters and their children, here is an update on the situation on the ground. Displaced persons in Mangu LGA is 68,000 while a total of 3,400 households were affected. December 2023 attack had 22 deaths in the LGA!
Sir, this article is more of a report to you of our efforts to make the kids in the affected areas be happy at Christmas and to attend to the mental health needs of those who are living with trauma as a result of the 2023 Christmas period criminal killings, the incessant killings and the fear of the possibility of another period of Christmas killings in 2024!
Sir, it is on record that my battle against Muslim/Muslim Ticket of you and Shettima was fiercely fought with my pen. I am concerned by the attitude of those who should be the voice of the church in your government, the pair of an Alhaji and his Pastor wife as the First Lady is far from translating to the balance of welfare of Christians and Muslims citizens. While we look out for improved welfare of Christians under your presidency, the pastoral visit of your Pastor wife to the Plateau in September 2023 is like that of a mother Christmas, but 2024 presents her with a unique and peculiar opportunity to break her silence over the post-2023 visit.
Sir, going forward, you may need to interrogate the managers of the bridges through which Christian citizens can reach you. The downside of a Muslim/Muslim Ticket is openly manifest in what we have gone through. I may need to admonish you on the need to review the ticket in 2027 and balance it accordingly. Sir, I need not remind the most strategic politician alive today of the dynamics of Christians’ votes that came out of Plateau in the last Presidential election.

Meanwhile, I rely on you as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to ensure the safety of the people on the Plateau and of my Team and I who are visiting for Christmas 2024; Stewards of Nations, seeking to Maximise Christ’s love to our nation.
Many thanks in advance for the restoration of honour to Christmas, the festival of Christendom cum Joy to the World; may it be a Merry Christmas to all Nigerians, your esteemed goodself and all State Governors at the President’s Christmas table.

Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also President Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the C.E.O, Masterbuilder Communications.
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