Over 100 People Buried, 20,000 Displaced as Gunmen Terrorise Plateau Villages
By Daniel Agada, Jos
The Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State has disclosed that buried over one hundred people, who are victims of unprovoked attacks and wanton killings, perpetrated by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias.
Recall, that alleged Fulani militias in the early hours of Tuesday 16th May, 2023, invaded Fungzai and Kubwat villages in Kumbun District of Mangu LGA.
Our correspondent gathered that the attack did not end in those areas, as the assailants further extended their devilish agenda to other surrounding villages in the locality that lead to deaths of many and destruction of houses and properties worth millions of naira.
Narrating their ordeals at a press conference, held at the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Secretariat Jos the state capital, National President of Mwaghavul Development Association, Sir Joseph Gwankat revealed that what is happening to them can best be described as genocide.
“Even though we did not take inventory to ascertain the number of people killed because some death bodies were trapped and dumped in holes, but I can categorically tell you that we have buried over 125 people.
“About 20 villages were ravaged by Fulani militias as more than 20,000 people were displaced. It is a systematic and deliberate ethnic cleansing of minority tribes in Nigeria and we cannot allow this to continue.
“We are calling on our people to arise and defend themselves, their God-giving land and properties with all that they have. We will not leave our land of heritage, this is the only place we can call our own; we have no other place to run to…
“The humanitarian situation is overwhelming and pathetic. People are either squatting with relatives, neighbors, in Churches and other available public places. They need food, toiletries, medications and places where they can rest their heads,” Gwankat stated.
The MDA National President further recommended that government should take immediate step towards facilitating the return of all refugees who are residing in different Internally Displaced People’s camps by constructing their homes and providing security for them as well.
“Government should take over full responsibility of educating children below 10 years who have lost both parents as a result of the conflicts, while arrangements should be made for SS3 students whose WAEC Exams were disrupted.
“We strongly advocate for state policing in all states and communities in Nigeria. Security agencies should build synergy with our community people to secure their families, as integration of vigilantes and hunters association into the state Operation Rainbow may assist in information and proper protection of our people.
“Government must create a special court to dispense justice between conflicting communities which will always help in nipping some conflicts in the bud before they escalate”
He also state that NEMA or SEMA must urgently mobilize resources immediately to address the situation of all victims.
