MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the recent attacks on Christmas Eve in Plateau State in Nigeria
6.2.2024 - (2024/2552(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure
Pedro Marques, Karsten Lucke
on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0105/2024
B9‑0118/2024
Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the recent attacks on Christmas Eve in Plateau State in Nigeria
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Nigeria,
– having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,
having regard to Rule 144 of its rules of procedure,
whereas on 24 December 2023 gunmen launched a large-scale attack on more than 160 villages in the Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Magu authority areas of Plateau State in north-central Nigeria;
whereas the attacks resulted in 335 deaths, 171 injured, over 409 razed houses, and an estimated 18,275 people displaced; whereas many of the displaced are currently living in temporary camps with limited access to water, sanitation, food, medication, and healthcare including mental health services; whereas women have been disproportionately affected by the displacement crisis;
whereas no-one has claimed responsibility for the attacks; whereas in January 2024 around 50 people were killed in further clashes in Mangu in Plateau state, where houses, churches and mosques were burnt down; whereas the security situation in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria is characterised by frequent attacks as a result of ongoing intense conflict marked by religious division between the largely Fulani Muslim herders and Christian farmers;
whereas the underlying elements to the conflict extend far beyond religious differences; whereas the factors fuelling clashes are overlapping and rooted in territorial disputes, ethnic clashes, access to scarce resources, environmental degradation; endemic poverty, social exclusion, and lack of access to basic services, education, and opportunities for stable livelihoods;
- Deplores the Christmas Eve attacks and deeply regrets the loss of life;
- Urges humanitarian actors including the Commission and EEAS to ensure sufficient resources are allocated to addressing the humanitarian crisis, including providing services for psychological support;
- Expresses concern at the rising insecurity across the country; underlines the obligations of the Nigerian authorities to protect lives and livelihoods; urges authorities to invest greater resources to ensure operations undertaken by security forces are conducted with the cooperation and trust of local communities, are effective in protecting the population, and are fully in line with national and international human rights law;
- Calls on the Nigerian authorities to conduct a thorough and independent investigation of the December attacks and ensure those responsible are held to account in fair trials;
- Underlines the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to ensure EU support holistically addresses security, political, humanitarian and sustainable development needs;
- Stresses in particular the need for continued interreligious and intercultural dialogue; urges the Commission and EEAS to continue supporting initiatives bringing together community and religious leaders as well as governmental and non-governmental stakeholders for peacebuilding dialogue; underlines the importance of ensuring woman and young people are fully represented in this process;
- Instruct its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the Government and Parliament of Nigeria.