By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Jos
DELTA: Dressed in black and marching with solemn determination, Christians from across Plateau State took to the streets of Jos on Easter Monday to protest the recent wave of killings in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas, which claimed nearly 100 lives and left several communities in ruins.
The protest, organised under the banner of the Church Leaders Denominational Forum, saw hundreds of worshippers march from the old Government House in Rayfield to the new Government House in Little Rayfield. There, they delivered a protest letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang.
The killings, which occurred during what should have been a season of peace and celebration, have once again thrown Plateau into mourning and fear. Community leaders and clerics are accusing the federal government of failing to protect citizens in the face of repeated attacks by armed groups.
“We are here today because the blood of our people cries out for justice,” said Rev. Dr. Amos Mohzo, President of COCIN and Chairman of the Denominational Leaders Forum in Plateau State. “What we are witnessing in Bokkos and Mangu is not just an attack on communities, but an assault on our shared humanity.”
The protest letter, jointly signed by Rev. Mohzo, the Plateau CAN Chairman Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo, and Rev. Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, described the killings as “barbaric, horrific and unprovoked,” with over 50 innocent people killed in Bokkos alone, including women and children.
“These unconscionable acts of brutality represent a grievous violation of human rights and a stain on our national conscience,” the letter read. “This peaceful protest is both a cry for justice and a call to end the bloodshed.”
The Christian leaders acknowledged a recent statement by President Tinubu condemning the attacks and pledging to bring the perpetrators to justice. They expressed hope that the federal government’s words would translate into real action.
In his response, Governor Caleb Mutfwang praised the protesters for their peaceful conduct and expressed solidarity with the grieving communities.
“The time has come for every Nigerian with a conscience to say enough is enough,” he said. “I assure you that I am in close communication with President Tinubu. We are working together to bring these attacks to an end so that our people can sleep with both eyes closed.”
For many Plateau residents, the protest was not just about the recent killings, but a broader cry against nearly two decades of violence that has repeatedly targeted farming communities in the region.
As the black-clad crowd dispersed quietly after submitting their demands, one message remained loud and clear: Plateau people are tired of mourning, and they are ready to stand for peace and justice no matter how long it takes.