On the recent attacks on Christmas Eve in Plateau State in Nigeria
B-9-2024-0118
on behalf of the S&D Group · Rapporteur: Pedro Marques, Karsten Lucke
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
Parliament's resolution on the Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau State, Nigeria, deplores the attacks and the loss of life.¶ It urges humanitarian actors, including the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS), to fund the humanitarian crisis, including psychological support.¶ It calls on Nigerian authorities to protect lives, run security operations in line with human rights law, and investigate the December attacks with fair trials for those responsible.¶¶ It asks for an integrated EU approach covering security, political, humanitarian and development needs, and continued interreligious and intercultural dialogue with women and young people represented.¶¶
Key points
- On 24 December 2023 gunmen attacked more than 160 villages in the Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Magu authority areas of Plateau State.¶
- The attacks caused 335 deaths, 171 injured, over 409 razed houses and an estimated 18,275 displaced people, many in temporary camps with limited water, sanitation, food, medication and healthcare, including mental health services; women were disproportionately affected.¶
- No one claimed responsibility; in January 2024 around 50 people were killed in further clashes in Mangu, Plateau State, where houses, churches and mosques were burnt down.¶
- The conflict's causes go beyond religious differences and include territorial disputes, ethnic clashes, access to scarce resources, environmental degradation, endemic poverty, social exclusion and lack of access to basic services, education and stable livelihoods.¶
- Parliament deplores the Christmas Eve attacks and deeply regrets the loss of life.¶
- It urges humanitarian actors, including the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS), to allocate sufficient resources to the humanitarian crisis, including psychological support services.¶
- It expresses concern at rising insecurity, underlines Nigerian authorities' obligation to protect lives and livelihoods, and urges them to invest greater resources so security operations have local cooperation and trust, protect the population and comply with national and international human rights law.¶
- It calls on Nigerian authorities to conduct a thorough and independent investigation of the December attacks and ensure those responsible face fair trials.¶
- It underlines the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach so EU support addresses security, political, humanitarian and sustainable development needs holistically.¶
- It stresses continued interreligious and intercultural dialogue, urges the Commission and EEAS to keep supporting initiatives bringing together community and religious leaders and governmental and non-governmental stakeholders for peacebuilding dialogue, and underlines that women and young people must be fully represented.¶
Who is affected
- Nigerian authorities: urged to protect lives, run rights-compliant security operations and investigate the attacks.¶¶
- Commission and EEAS: urged to fund humanitarian aid and support peacebuilding dialogue.¶¶
- People displaced in Plateau State: many live in temporary camps with limited water, sanitation, food, medication and healthcare.¶
- Women and young people: disproportionately affected by displacement and to be fully represented in dialogue.¶