Real estate developer and CEO of JOKATU Property Development Limited, Mr. John Gamasaura Katura, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Plateau State, particularly in the Bokkos and Bassa local government areas, describing them as “heinous and barbaric.” Over 100 lives, mostly women and children, were reportedly lost in the coordinated attacks, with properties worth millions of naira destroyed
In a statement issued on Saturday 19th April, Katura expressed his heartfelt condolences to the affected families and communities, calling the incidents “man’s inhumanity to man.” He commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his swift response in providing relief materials to victims and implementing security measures aimed at curbing further violence.
“These barbaric attacks must be condemned in strong terms by every sane and rational mind because they are a threat to the peace and stability of Plateau State,” Katura said.
He also praised security agencies for recent arrests linked to the attacks, while urging the government to ensure a transparent and expedited prosecution process. According to Katura, past cases often end with suspects transferred to Abuja, only for investigations to fizzle out without meaningful conclusions.
Katura warned that the ongoing attacks were not mere communal clashes or farmer-herder conflicts, but a well-orchestrated plan to dispossess indigenous communities of their ancestral lands. He criticized what he described as false narratives by “so-called leaders” who shield perpetrators rather than speak the truth.
“The killings on the Plateau are driven by an expansionist agenda. We must acknowledge this reality and respond accordingly,” he asserted.
Calling for unity across political and ethnic lines, Katura emphasized that the protection of Plateau’s heritage and people should supersede any partisan interest. “This is not a time for division but a time to rise together as one people. Peace and safety must come first,” he said.
In a separate Easter message, Mr. Katura called on Christians to use the season as a time of prayer, healing, and national reflection. “Let this Easter rekindle in us the spirit of brotherhood, peace, and forgiveness,” he wrote, encouraging residents to draw strength from the message of resurrection in overcoming current challenges.
Katura concluded by reaffirming his commitment to the peace and progress of Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
