Fears of fresh killings resonate on the Plateau as crisis festers

Tension mount in Plateau State over fears of fresh attacks.

• Indigenous Fulani alleges plot for ethnic cleansing
• ‘Operation Rainbow’ is partisan, JNI claims
• Allegations unfounded, baseless – govt official
• Change your tactics, Gen Onoja counsels security agencies
• MURIC sues for calm, as OPSH arrests suspect, recovers weapons

As the crisis in Plateau State festers with the killing of no fewer than 30 people in Mangu Local Council of the state last Wednesday, Nigerian security agencies have been urged to regularly review their operational tactics towards the restoration of lasting peace.

This was even as the Coalition of the Plateau State Indigenous Fulani Association has alleged that at least nine of its people were killed this January without any word of remorse from the state government, saying there was a plot for ethnic cleansing in the state.

The Mangu crisis started in the morning of January 23, 2024 from the outskirts of the local council but spread into the town later in the day, degenerating into a seemingly ethno-religious crisis with many places of worship torched.

The killings in Mangu occurred barely a month after a well-coordinated terrorists’ attack in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi areas of the state led to the murder of 195 persons. The attack affected 84 communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi and left 29,350 persons displaced.
According to the Red Cross, the coordinated attack also left 301 persons injured and 27 houses burnt.

Former military governor of the state, Major-General Lawrence Onoja (rtd), who called for a change in strategy in containing the crisis, stated that keeping to one operational style would render the operations and services of the security agencies ineffective, thereby providing leeway to the bandits, criminals and kidnappers to freely operate.

Speaking during the interdenominational thanksgiving service for the affirmation of the election victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang by the Supreme Court penultimate Friday, which was held at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos, yesterday, Onoja noted that bandits and other criminal elements always study the tactics being employed by the military to know how and when to strike and cause devastating impact.

He lamented that military intelligence gathering, which is gradually phasing out, should be revived and adhered to with all sense of responsibility.

According to the Coalition of the Plateau State Indigenous Fulani Association, the Fulani victims were just going about their legitimate businesses when they were killed in cold blood.

While reposing confidence in the state’s Special Task Force known as Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), the Coalition said it has lost confidence in the state government.

Addressing journalists yesterday, the leader of the seven-member coalition, who is also the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Muhammad Nuru Abdullahi, said:  “We have lost hope in the Plateau State Government.”

According to Abdullahi, their concern was hinged on the call on locals to defend themselves, adding that there was a massive awareness campaign going on in the rural communities.

“How do we achieve sustainable peace and development? This, we strongly believe, is alarming. We also believe there is massive mobilization and preparedness for a heavy and non-stop bloodbath in the state.
“We, at this point, make a distress call to both the federal and state governments to as a matter of urgency take immediate steps to halt further killings and destruction,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government to organize a high-powered dialogue and reconciliation committee to look into the immediate and remote causes of the long-standing conflict “as we have lost hope in the Plateau State government.”

He alleged that there is a plot to embark on ethnic cleansing of Fulani, saying: “Because of the control of the media that the Plateau State government has, it suppresses reports which state the true and favorable position of the Fulani’s.”

Meanwhile, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Plateau State chapter has condemned in totality the resurgence of violence in Mangu local council of the state.

“This necessitated the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the local council by the state government. This measure perhaps was timely. Unfortunately, the implementation becomes problematic because the security personnel are obviously overstretched while some are allegedly compromised.
“Reports from Mangu town this morning are 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”, a statement issued yesterday by the Secretary of JNI,  Plateau State, Dr. Salim Musa Umar, alleged.

The statement added:  “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.

“Security agents should be on the lookout for possible infiltrators as it is widely alleged that some hired killers are on the prowl with the intent to carry out massive attacks on Muslims in the community. This is an act that shouldn’t be allowed to happen.
“All hands must be on deck to restore peace and order in Mangu LGA and other affected communities. Peace is priceless. We all must strive to restore sanity in an open and unbiased manner by all stakeholders.”

Also, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to residents and other agitators in the state to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.

The human rights organization described the wanton destruction of lives and property as barbaric and satanic. It also called on the people to learn how to co-exist peacefully with one another.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the group said:
“The death toll in the raging crisis in Mangu, Plateau State, has reached eight. Six mosques and two churches have been burnt. The burnt mosques include a central mosque, the Anguwan Dawo Jumat Mosque. An Islamic school, Audi Islamiyyah, was also burnt. The two burnt churches, Deden and Assemblies of God’s Church, are located in Sabon-Kasuwa in Dercom and Alogom areas of Mangu. Both belong to COCIN.”

MURIC alleged that there has been a consistency of attacks on northern Muslims who live in Plateau State, wondering why they are always targeted for killing. It further claimed that all the eight people who died in the riot were Muslims.

The statement added: “We note with serious concern the consistency of attacks on Northern Muslims who live in Plateau State. We find it noteworthy that although Southern Christians of the South East and South West also reside in large numbers in Plateau State, it is the Northern Muslims who are always targeted for killing. The others have never been attacked.”

Quoting reports from its Plateau State MURIC and that of the JNI, the group added: “The reports also affirm that the security outfits in ‘Operation Rainbow’ are partisan as there are complaints that Muslims and their mosques did not receive adequate protection, a situation, which made it possible for the Christian youths to burn as many as eight mosques while only two churches were affected.”

Urging the security operatives in the state to be fair to all in the discharge of their duties, MURIC said partisanship in the security agencies could cause irreparable damage and also allow the crisis to escalate beyond imagination.

“We appeal to the people of Mangu in particular and Plateau State in general to stop all forms of hostility. They should cooperate with law enforcement agencies. The name of Plateau State has become synonymous with killing and destruction. This has started to scare prospective investors, tourists and visitors away from the state. This is bound to affect the state’s economy,” MURIC added.

However, the Special Military Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), has disclosed that it has arrested some suspects in connection with the recent deadly attacks in Mangu local council of the state.

The Media Officer of the task force, Capt. James Oya, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Jos and made available to newsmen yesterday.
Oya, who did not disclose the number of the suspects, stated that the task force also recovered some dangerous weapons during a raid of the area.

“We have successfully apprehended some suspects and seized a cache of dangerous weapons used in the recent attacks.
“We successfully recovered a significant arsenal of weapons that includes one AK-47 rifle, four locally fabricated automatic rifles, one locally made mortar bomb launcher and seven empty shells of 7.62mm.
“Others include one empty shell of a cartridge, one pistol magazine, 36 Boris, three rounds of 7.62mm and seven rounds of 9x19mm,” Oya said.

He condemned the civilian attack on Airforce personnel and military facilities at Kerang Community, deployed to enforce the 24-hour curfew in the locality.

“In a shocking act of aggression, the youths of Kerang launched an assault on our troops deployed to maintain the peace and security during the curfew.
“This attack, including firing at the troops’ patrol vehicles, posed a significant threat to the safety of both the military personnel and the community at large.
“But we are committed to upholding the rule of law and will not tolerate any attempts to disrupt the peace and security in the region.
“We also remain committed to working in partnership with the people of Plateau to foster a peaceful and secure environment for all,” Oya added.”

According to him, the OPSH personnel and other security agencies would remain professional in the discharge of their constitutional duties.

Attempts by The Guardian to get the reaction of the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Ibrahim Musa Ashoms, Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Gyang Bere, to the allegations made by the Fulani were unsuccessful as the officials were with Governor Caleb Mutfwang in Mangu to assess the level of damage. Their phones were ringing but they didn’t take their calls.

However, a Director in one of the ministries, who spoke on condition of anonymity, debunked the allegation that the government has been biased against the Fulani in the state.

The source said: “If they now decide not to have confidence in the government of the day where they have lived for years in Plateau, let them be. The governor I know, His Excellency, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, is a straight forward man who does not discriminate against anybody, irrespective of tribe, ethnicity and religion. He is not a bigot.”

According to the source, the accusation is baseless and has no foundation. “Have they not been living in Plateau for years where they even inter-married?” He queried.

The source also debunked the allegation that the Fulani were attacked without government’s intervention, saying it was only a figment of the imagination of the Fulani leaders.

“Can government be everywhere? They are also saying that Fulani are being killed secretly and their cows rustled without government’s intervention. But the Fulani can do so to themselves as well. I am not exonerating the natives also in this respect. There are bad elements in every society. It is not limited to one group or ethnicity,” the source added.

The official clarified that he was only saying what he knew, adding that he was not defending anybody.