In the wake of the heinous Christmas Eve attacks that claimed about 195 lives in Plateau State, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called upon the Federal Government to declare a day of national mourning. The student body expressed deep concern over the brutal killings and the apparent lack of progress in apprehending the perpetrators.
NANS Senate President, Ekundina Elvis, voiced the association’s distress, stating, “We are saddened by the news of tens of worshippers who were brutally murdered in cold blood by blood-thirsty gunmen in Plateau State.” The statement emphasized the embarrassment felt by NANS over the failure to identify, arrest, and prosecute the murderers responsible for the heart-wrenching massacre.
Highlighting the absence of concrete steps taken by the government to honor the memories of the victims, NANS called for a shift from mere condolence visitations to decisive actions ensuring the protection of lives and property. The association urged the ruling class to prioritize the safety of Nigerian citizens.
“As an association, we want to say that enough condolence visitations by our ruling class, the government must make concerted efforts towards the protection of lives and property of the Nigerian people,” declared the statement.
In a conclusive plea, NANS urged the Federal Government to declare a day of national mourning as a symbol of solidarity with the grieving nation. The association proposed that the Nigerian flag be flown at half-mast across all levels to honor the lives lost in the recent attacks.
Related: Black Christmas As Gunmen Kill Over 70 In Plateau
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the Christmas Eve massacre, The PUNCH reported additional threats of fresh attacks on a community in Plateau State. The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Middle Belt Forum, Stanley Kavwam, revealed that terrorists had sent a letter of an imminent attack to the Pushit Community in the Mangu Local Government Area. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Alabo Alfred, acknowledged the intelligence on the threat, assuring that the command was actively working on addressing the situation.
