SERAP Urges ICC to Investigate Plateau State Massacre; Demands Justice for Victims

In a fervent plea to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Sunday, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) demanded immediate intervention to probe the unlawful killings, crimes against children, and violations of international law in Plateau State, Nigeria. 

The urgent call followed the harrowing Christmas Eve attack that claimed over 150 lives in a brutal assault by armed assailants.

SERAP’s emphatic statement underscored the urgency and gravity of the situation, urging ICC Prosecutor Mr Karim Khan to swiftly investigate the heinous crimes committed in Plateau State. 

“We’ve asked Mr Karim Khan, Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC) to urgently probe the unlawful killings, crimes against children and other violations of international law in Plateau State,” SERAP stated. 

The aftermath of the assault, spanning more than 17 local villages in Bokkos and surrounding districts, has left indelible scars on the communities, with homes destroyed and thousands displaced from their residences.

While no group has claimed responsibility, long-standing tensions between Muslim herders and Christian farmers have often been the backdrop to such violence in Plateau state.

As SERAP’s call for ICC involvement intensifies, seeking to address the deep-rooted security challenges, the Nigerian government faces mounting criticism over its response to the security crisis. Promising accountability, it grapples with challenges in protecting vulnerable communities.

Background

The Christmas Eve attack, a tragic culmination of violence, saw gunmen terrorizing more than 17 local villages in Bokkos and surrounding districts, leaving a trail of destruction and displacing thousands.

The survivors’ accounts revealed a nightmarish scene of attackers arriving on motorbikes, armed with sophisticated weaponry, causing chaos and devastation. Shelong Gabriel’s tragic loss of three family members serves as a poignant reminder of the anguish experienced by affected families.

While no specific group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Plateau state has a history of ethno-religious tensions between Muslim herders and Christian farmers, often escalating into violent clashes.

The Nigerian government’s promises of accountability amidst mounting criticism over its response to the security crisis highlight the challenges in safeguarding vulnerable communities.

As the situation remains dire in Plateau State, SERAP’s resounding plea for ICC intervention aims to address the deep-rooted security challenges and provide solace and justice to the shattered communities in Nigeria.