…El Buba decries setting up of Fulani militia in Nasarawa
… JNI expresses regret at escalating killings in Mangu
From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
A family of five, a man and his three children and grand daughter, were among the 30 people killed in the renewed clashes between the locals and Fulani herders in Mangu local government area of Plateau state.
The man, identified as David, his son Emmanuel, daughter, Beatrice and two others whose names are yet to be ascertained as at press time were said to have been burnt in their house in Sabon Kasuwa area of Kwagas Layir in Mangu town. One of the girls was said to be his grand daughter, who is an SS1 student
The man was said to be a native of Langtang North, but working in Mangu local government area.
The rampaging gunmen were said to have defied the curfew imposed by Governor Caleb Mutfwang to attack the Kwagas Layir, Sabon Kasuwa and the surrounding communities where they killed no fewer than 30 persons and burnt some property too.
Special Adviser on Security to Mutfwang, Gakji Shipi had told our correspondent the problem was sparked off by an altercation between a local and a Fulani herder over right of way. The herder was said to have herded his cows across the Mangu road when the local riding on a motorcycle challenged him. The altercation was said to have snowballed into a free-for-all as sympathisers of both parties joined the fray
Earlier Tuesday, a TruthNigeria, a non-governmental organisation had raised fears of possible attacks in the area when it said it received credible information indicating that a convoy of armed gunmen, originating from Marit, Exland, Josho, Mahanga, Mushere, and Ruku, comprising of motorbikes with three individuals on each, was enroute to Mangu and neighboring villages in Bokkos local government areas.
The security alert had said, “All residents and security personnel are urged to exercise heightened vigilance and take immediate precautions. Stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities. Security forces are actively responding to the situation, but public cooperation is essential for a swift and effective response.
“Please share this alert with your community to ensure everyone stays informed and safe. The situation is dynamic, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
A resident of Kwagas Layir, whose house was completely,l razed, Mrs Solome Shekar, told our correspondent that she’s yet to see her who she left in the house.
According to her, “When we heard rumours and gunshots on Tuesday I had to evacuate my husband who was very sick to another village while I left my son to take care of the house. On Wednesday the attackers went and burnt out house and as I am talking to you, I am yet to see him.
She confirmed that the family of five was burnt inside their house in Sabon Kasuwa area of Kwagas Layir.
She also said that as at Wednesday afternoon, many houses were still up in flames in many parts of Mangu.
A human rights activist, Makut Alfred Mashat, has confirmed that killings were still going on in Mangu despite the presence of security agents, stressing that since the Christmas Eve masaccre, many more people have been killed.
He said, “As I write this dirge with a heavy heart, Mangu is under attacks and innocent villagers have been killed with concerns that the same armed forces that are supposed to protect the people are the ones conniving to aid the attackers.
In his statement entitled, ‘Tinubu, how many more plateau lives will have to go before you hop into that military aircraft and touchdown in plateau state?’, decried the insensitivity shown by the president.’
He said, “Mr President you have failed in securing the lives of the common Plateau man.
“The life of every Nigerian citizen is in your hands since the day you swore an oath to become the President of Nigeria.
“Mr President over 1000 lives have been lost in Plateau State between the deadliest Christmas eve, Christmas day and boxing day attacks in Bokkos Barkin Ladi and Mangu.
“Mr President you have failed in your responsibility of securing lives and property of Plateau Citizens and this is not acceptable.
Mr President you have to declare a state of emergency in Mangu,Bokkos and Barkin Also and order all service chief to relocate to Platea State with your leading the pack in military attire to land at the Airfield base in Kerang Mangu immediately.
Meanwhile the General Overseers of EBOMI, Prophet Isa El-Buba, has condemned the setting up of a militia by the Miyetti Allah in Nasarawa state.
Addressing newsmen in his church on Wednesday, Buba described it as a dangerous trend, which allowed will spell doom for the country, stressing that the setting up of the milita in Nasarawa has confirmed that the state is the hub of Fulani militia in the country.
He said, “I take exception to, and reject the lame, obnoxious, insanely hypocritical and ill-intentioned purported creation of a Nomad Vigilante Group in Nasarawa State by Bello Bodejo’s Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore (MAKH).
“More insulting to Nigerians’ psyche and the memory of thousands gruesomely killed and displaced by Fulani militias, is the group’s purported joke to invite known terrorist, Turji and other Fulani militia leaders to work in the vigilante group.
“The sheer hypocrisy is crystal clear in the inter-convertibility of how Miyetti Allah’s tribesmen in the mold of Fulani Militias who have been terrorizing, killing and maiming Nigerians in most part of the country, will now be the same people to quickly resort to creating a Nomad vigilante group.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this is a Greek gift to our security architecture! And we are calling on relevant authorities to rein in and clamp down on Miyetti Allah.
“This is sacrosanct to abort an underhanded and systematic plan to overrun especially Northcentral Nigeria with, and by Fulani militias’ group seeking to disguise as nomadic vigilante and consolidate Nasarawa State as a harboring ground and operational foot hold given the state’s borders with Plateau, Benue, Kaduna and the FCT where there are prevailing security challenges.”
The prophet decried the effects of escalating insecurity in Nigeria, especially on the agricultural sector, saying that, “Data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, Foreign investment in the agricultural sector in the third quarter of 2015 was $95.10 million, in Quarter 3 of 2023, it was at an all-time low $4.64 million, representing a 95% decline.”
“What chased the investments? Rising insecurity within the same period. Like we know, this Agricultural sector investment decline carries a corresponding decline of some 60% in food production. The direct impact of this on the average Nigerian is the unbearable high surge in food prices, which economist measured to have quickened to be at an all high 33.93% food inflation rate. already, the nation’s headline inflation has accelerated to 28.95% as at today.
He called on the president to tackle insecurity headlong.
Also the Ja’amatu Nasril Islam (JNI) Plateau State chapter has condemned in totality the resurgence of violence in Mangu town of the state.
JNI, in a statement signed by Secretary, Dr. Salim Musa Umar, expressed dismay that the the crisis started in the morning of Tuesday, 23rd January, 2024, from the outskirts of Mangu town, spread into the town later in the day.
“This, unfortunately, has degenerated into a seemingly ethno-religious crisis where places of worship were torched.
“Reports from Mangu town this morning is not encouraging as places of worship and faith-based schools were torched and demolished while the killing continues again.
“Residents are decrying the negative role of the state government security outfit codenamed ‘Operation Rainbow’, accusing them of glaring partisanship.
“We call on the government and security agencies to intensify their efforts in securing the lives and properties of the inhabitants of mangu and other flash points. All concerned should also do everything possible to prevent any possible escalation.”
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