- Plateau farmer-herders attack
- Gunmen attack Plateau State’s Mangu Local Government Area
- Many feared dead in Mangu, Riyom
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) said yesterday that 15 individuals were slain following an alleged invasion of their settlements in Plateau State’s Mangu Local Government Area.
The group also claimed that 78 of their members’ homes had been destroyed and that over 2,000 animals had gone missing as a result of the invasion.
Nuru Abdullahi, the group’s state leader, revealed this to journalists yesterday in Jos, the state capital.
According to the Daily Trust, the group accused Operation Rainbow, a state security force, of invading and burning their communities, an allegation that the team disputed.
He said, “On the invasion of Fulani communities in villages of Mangu, we have recovered 15 bodies killed on Friday. About 78 houses were burnt down. Cattle numbering 2,000 are still missing. This unfortunate thing is moving its head quickly into other LGAs of the state to annihilate Fulani completely in the state.”
Abdullahi also alleged a plan to attack their communities by suspected militias.
“There is an intelligence report that there are trained militias recruited and brought to fight and chase all Fulani out of Plateau State in the name of crisis. Therefore, at this point, we are still calling on the federal government to as a matter of urgency put a stop to what is happening in Mangu LGA.
“They should take immediate action before things go out of hand. We are soliciting the FG to take necessary action so that things will not go out of hand. We will not continue watching people killing us and destroying our properties,” Abdullahi added.
The spokesman of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, and that of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba Barrack, Lieutenant Colonel Ishaku Sabastine Takwa, had yet to respond to calls and messages from our correspondent on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that there have been crises in communities in Mangu LGA where more than 200 persons, including women and children, have been confirmed dead in the last several months.
Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has placed a 24-hour curfew on Mangu Local Government Area in order to restore peace and order and prevent additional loss of life and property.
According to Gyang Bere, Director of Press and Public Affairs, the governor issued the curfew after consulting with the State Security Council.
The statement said movements within the local government have been banned until further notice except for security personnel and persons on essential duties, adding that security agencies have been directed to ensure total enforcement of the curfew.
The governor assured that his government was working round-the-clock to restore peace and security in the state.