‘May God free Nigeria from these horrors’ — Pope Francis prays for victims of Plateau killings

Pope Francis has said a prayer for Nigeria over the worsening insecurity in Plateau state.

On Christmas Eve, over 150 persons were killed in attacks by gunmen on communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi LGAs of the north-central state.

The attacks, which snowballed into Christmas Day, left houses razed and properties looted across some 17 communities.

A week after the attack, three persons died following a case of attempted kidnapping in Durbi village of Jos East LGA.

Alfred Alabo, state police spokesperson, confirmed the development to TheCable on Monday.

Although there were reports that the casualties were as a result of a fresh attack in the state, Alabo dismissed them.

“There was no attack, there was an attempted kidnap which is what happens throughout the country. Even though we have a very low rate here, we have reduced it to bare minimum,” he said.

“It was a kidnap where they killed a father and son although it was the son they went to kidnap but they tried to fight them off. In the process, the 80-year-old father was killed alongside the son.

“Upon sighting the police at the scene, the kidnappers fled but a stray bullet hit one of the kidnappers, making three.”

Asked if progress has been made in nabbing the rest of the gang, Alabo said the police recovered materials from the scene that would aid the investigations and added that arrests would be made soon.

Reacting to the incidents in a tweet on New Year’s Eve, Pope Francis asked global citizens to join him in prayers “for the victims of the severe violence”.

“May God free Nigeria from these horrors!” he added.

“Let us also pray for those who lost their lives in the explosion of a tanker truck in Liberia.”

After the attacks, President Bola Tinubu condemned the incidents and directed security operatives to arrest perpetrators of the killings.

However, there are concerns that the investigations are at a measured pace.

On Saturday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), asked the federal government to intensify efforts in delivering justice.