Reports say, no fewer than eight persons have been confirmed dead following a fresh religious violence that erupted Monday 22 January 2024 in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
It was gathered that some residents have been killed and several others injured as many could not be found after fleeing their houses for safety.
According to sources who alleged that the unrest had to do with cattle rustling, said that attempts aimed at resisting the incident resulted in a major chaos.
Meanwhile, the Security Adviser to the Plateau State governor, retired Brigadier General Shipi Gakji revealed that the Monday’s mayhem was caused by a dispute over right of way.
Gakji stated that the current security breakdown in Mangu is as a result of a misunderstanding between two parties noting that security forces are on the ground trying as much as possible to see ensure the return of peace in the area.
“Typical of such incidences, hoodlums and miscreants tried to seize the opportunity to create havoc, which is one of the things that escalated and led to the imposition of a state of emergency in Mangu,” General Gakji added.
It was also learnt that houses, mosques and churches were reportedly burnt by assailants from both sides of the divide.
Addressing newsmen on the development, the Deputy Chairman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Mangu LGA, Malam Adamu Abdulsalam, revealed that six mosques, including the Juma’at mosque at Anguwan Dawo, were burned during the incident.
“As I am talking to you now, we have eight dead bodies in the mosque. But we don’t know if we will recover more casualties tomorrow because there is a curfew in the town. We are going to bury the dead tomorrow (today) by the special grace of God”. He added.
The Chief Imam of Dawo Juma’at mosque, and Secretary of Ulama Council in Mangu, Imam Abdullahi Maisaje, the also confirmed that his mosque was also burned down during the incident.
Maisaje disclosed further; “I can confirm to you that many people were killed. My elder brother was burnt inside his house. I saw four dead bodies but I cannot give the exact number of those that died during the incident.
“Six mosques were burnt at different locations in Mangu including Audi Islamiyya School. Many people were injured and are currently receiving treatment at the hospital”.
Also reacting to the incident, a resident of Mangu, Mathias Ibrahim, said that the incident spread to Dercom and Alogom areas of the town and continued to spread until two COCIN churches in Sabon-Kasuwa, Deden and Assemblies of God’s Church were also razed down.
Sources also disclosed that a youth lost his life in the attacked by the herders which led to the fight spiraling to the town.
The sources added that some women also mobilized to a nearby checkpoint to protest, saying that the place of the first attack occurred near a military checkpoint and little or nothing was done to contain the attackers.
Said to have been pacified, the women reportedly returned to their homes.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mangu Branch, Rev Timothy Daluk, noted that some deaths were recorded on both the Christian and Muslim sides, but that number of death victims has not been ascertained.
Recalled that Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who hails from the affected LGA, had earlier imposed a 24-hour curfew in the area and its environs following the recent violence in the area.
