Plateau Gov. under fire for proceeding with Wyclef Jean, M.I concert amidst attacks in villages
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has affirmed his commitment to move forward with the scheduled Yule jam, featuring Wyclef Jean and M.I Abaga, despite the increasing casualties from the recent attacks on Plateau communities.
The Governor said that the violent rampage did not impact the state capital of Jos, and therefore, his government’s plans remained unchanged.
Neptune Prime reports that the fatalities from the violent attacks by herdsmen on rural communities in Plateau rose to 112 deaths with many other villagers severely injured.
READ ALSO: Christmas Day Massacre: Death toll rises to 112 as gunmen attack 12 Plateau villages
The defenceless residents were killed in coordinated attacks across a dozen villages in the state, majority of whom were women and children.
Despite the tragic events haunting the region, the governor and his team remained resolute in their decision to proceed with the planned concert.
“We now have 162 bodies from all the places that local security people searched,” a volunteer medical worker Maria Mwantok told The Gazette shortly before noon on Tuesday.
“Many people in Bokkos fled into nearby woods with gunshot wounds where they later bled to death.”
Scores of people were left critically injured in the attacks, which began Saturday afternoon and lasted till Sunday midnight in at least 15 villages across three local government areas of Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Mangu.
As the attacks were underway, the governor posted a video on his X (formerly Twitter) handle announcing December 31 and January 1 for an upcoming party that would feature Wyclef and M.I. Abaga, a Nigerian entertainer from Plateau.
Earlier on Monday, M.I lamented the violence and prayed for victims in a post on social media.
“On behalf of the peaceful and loving people of Plateau state. I am honoured to welcome Wyclef Jean, a Grammy award-winning artiste and global music icon, and the Caribbean International Commerce Holdings Team to Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria,” Mr Mutfwang said in a video posted at 11:24 a.m. Sunday.
It will “be lit,” the governor said at the video’s end, after laying his plan to use the event to launch Plateau State Industrial Innovation and Technology Park in Jos, the state capital.
As the post drew a flurry of criticisms from citizens who slammed its timing as insensitive to the grieving families and the memories of the deceased, The Gazette reached the governor’s office to ask whether any plans were being considered to readjust the event’s schedule.
“Yes, it’s holding,” the governor’s chief press secretary, Gyang Bere, told The Gazette by telephone Tuesday morning.
Mr Bere said the governor and participants at the event would be totally safe from the herdsmen violence because the event would be held in the state capital, as against remote communities where insecurity had dislodged thousands.
“What is happening is not an issue in Jos city,” Mr Bere said, adding that what happened in the villages was “an attack outside.”
“But in Jos, there is security on the ground. Our event is still on the timeline,” the governor’s spokesman said.
