Plateau State killings: Six Baptist members buried amidst tears

Six members of the Baptist Church were  given a mass burial amidst tears on Monday.

The interred persons were part of over 200 people killed in Jos, Plateau State, in Barkin Ladi and other local government areas.

The bodies were moved from the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos, to Kantoma in Mangu Local Government Area for the mass burial on Monday.

The President of Baptist Church Conference, Plateau State, observed that the recent killings in state were supposed to be treated with seriousness, yet nothing of such was being done. He opined that in other climes, the government would have declared a public holiday to mark the death of the victims.

The President, expressing his worry over the killings in the state, alleged that security agencies appeared to have compromised in the ongoing crisis in the state.

The president said: “Imagine, no military personal was on site at the scene of the killings, yet the military claimed to be on top of the situation. The level of the killings of women, children and elderly by suspected herdsmen is quite worrisome. The church lost a lot of its members and six of them are being buried today. One of our churches in Sabin Angwa was burnt down and six of its members killed, while several property were destroyed, leaving people displaced. The church has taken steps to accommodate the victims and provide some relief materials.”

He pleaded with the government to do more in ending the killings, stressing that the displaced people need to return home.

The Bishop Methodist Church and Vice Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, Plateau State Chapter, Bishop Chindo Ibrahim, condoled with the family of the victims. He called on Plateau State indigenes to unite and fight the evil act. 

He said: “If Plateau State people do not come together in unity and purpose, it will be difficult to tackle this problem. But if they come together as a people, then this thing will stop. The time is now for Plateau State people to unite and fight herdsmen attacks. Imagine how people are daily being killed and security agencies seem not to be able to handle the matter well.”

Member Representing Barkin Ladi Hon. Peter Gyendeng and Commissioner for Physical Planning Hon. Bulus Bot both expressed dismay over the killings. They called for sober reflections, adding that the government was doing everything to stop the killings.