Recent attacks on Christmas Eve in Plateau State in Nigeria
TA-9-2024-0072 · P9_TA(2024)0072 · PE756.847
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Parliament's resolution of 8 February 2024 condemns the Christmas Eve attacks on villages in Plateau State, Nigeria, and expresses solidarity with those affected.¶¶ It calls on Nigerian authorities to act against militant Islamist groups, address root causes, and conduct an independent investigation so those responsible are held to account.¶¶ It urges humanitarian actors to allocate sufficient resources, welcomes Nigeria's parliamentary debate, and encourages the government to improve security, dialogue and socio-economic recovery.¶¶ It welcomes EU-Nigeria partnership, calls for deeper cooperation in security, mediation and peace-building, and welcomes the EUR 900 million Global Gateway package announced in October 2023.¶
Key points
- Parliament strongly condemns the Christmas violence targeting Christians and other communities, which caused deaths, injuries and displacements, and expresses solidarity with those affected.¶
- It calls on Nigerian authorities to take action against militant Islamist groups exploiting the farmer-herder conflict and to address its root causes.¶
- It warns the conflict may be instrumentalised to spread religion-based hatred and acknowledges climate change, resource competition and lost mediation schemes as aggravating factors.
- It calls on Nigerian authorities to conduct a thorough, independent investigation of the Christmas attacks and ensure those responsible are held to account.¶
- It urges all humanitarian actors to ensure sufficient resources are allocated to addressing the crisis.¶
- It welcomes the Nigerian Parliament's debate and encourages the Nigerian Government to enhance community security, foster dialogue and mediation, and reaffirm commitment to socio-economic recovery.¶
- It welcomes the strong EU-Nigeria partnership and calls for it to be deepened in security, mediation, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and peace-building.¶
- It encourages the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to visit Nigeria and welcomes the announcement of a EUR 900 million Global Gateway package for Nigeria in October 2023.
Who is affected
- Nigerian authorities, who are asked to act against militant groups, investigate the attacks and improve security.¶¶¶
- Humanitarian actors, who are urged to allocate sufficient resources to the crisis.¶
- The EU and Nigeria, whose partnership should be deepened in security, mediation and peace-building.¶
- The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, who is encouraged to visit Nigeria.
Figures and deadlines
- between 23 and 25 December 2023, gunmen attacked more than 160 villages in Plateau State¶
- over 335 people were killed, including at least 200 members of Christian communities
- 52 000 Christians and 34 000 Muslims have been killed since 2009, according to Nigerian NGOs¶
- 18 000 churches and 2 200 Christian schools have been destroyed
- over two million people have been displaced by violence by Islamic terrorist groups¶
- EUR 900 million Global Gateway package for Nigeria announced in October 2023¶