President Bola Tinubu, in his New Year message on Monday,  ignored victims and families of victims of Plateau Christmas Eve massacre, while claiming security has improved under his watch.

 However, the number of casualties has increased to 195 as more bodies were recovered. 

The tragic incident has sparked outrage locally and across the globe as many have called for drastic actions against rampaging herdsmen incessantly terrorising Plateau State. 

Amnesty International condemned Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau communities, berating Mr Tinubu for brazenly failing to protect communities in the state and Nigeria at large, while the United Nations, France and United States of America have condemned the attacks. 

But Mr Tinubu, who only issued a statement condemning the incident and ordering provision of relief material for the victims 48 hours after the incident, made no mention of victims and families of victims of Plateau Christmas Eve massacre. 

Rather, Mr Tinubu claimed Nigeria’s security has improved since he assumed office, ignoring the most tragic and recent massacre that marked his seventh month in office. 

“Since our administration took over the mantle of office, security has improved. Silently, we have worked to free captives from abductors,” said Mr Tinubu. 

“While we can’t beat our chest yet that we have solved all the security problems, we are working hard to ensure that we all have peace of mind in our homes, places of work, and on the roads.“

Nigerians, especially grieving Plateau people, who expected that Mr Tinubu will talk about the Christmas Eve massacre or inform Nigerians on what his government is doing to secure the country in his New Year message, were left  disappointed.

Steven Kefas, a minority rights activist and public affairs analyst,  expressed disappointment in Mr Tinubu’s failure to speak about the Christmas Eve killings in Plateau that has been on the front burner in the last one week.

“In fact, to say I’m disappointed is an understatement because this is an incident that has been on the front burner in the last one week both within and outside the country. And our own president decided not to talk about it. It doesn’t make sense to me,” Mr Kefas said.

“I spoke with somebody who is currently in Bokkos, of course they are in remote area they don’t have access to the media. He said they were shocked to hear that the president didn’t talk about it. And that’s their feeling there generally. It shows that their plight is not worth mentioning by the president.”

Bishop Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, in a statement on Sunday, lamented killings in Plateau State, saying “President Tinubu must know that the legitimacy of his government hangs on resolving this and giving us our country back. 

“Sadly, with time, Nigerians are gradually losing hope in the ability of their government to protect and secure them. While we religious leaders have continued to use our moral authority to encourage our people not to take the laws into their hands, we risk being swept away by the anger and frustration of our people,” he added. 

Bayo Onanuga, a media aide to Mr Tinubu, did not respond to calls from Peoples Gazette seeking to know why the president left out Christmas Eve killings in Plateau State. Also, a WhatsApp message sent to Mr Onanuga was not immediately replied.