Mwaghavul Development Association in Plateau urges Federal Government to halt carnage by Fulanis

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By Raymond Gukas, Jos

As the violent attacks and killings on communities of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State by suspected Fulani mercenaries persist, President Bola Tinubu has been urged to declare Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) a terrorists organisation with immediate effect.

This is coming as the new General Officer Commanding, (GOC), of the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigeria Army, Major-General A. E. Abubakar confirmed he will move the headquarters of the Operation Safe Haven, (OPSH), the joint military taskforce established to maintain law and order to the troubled state in order to tackle the terrorists acts within the state.

The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, (MDA), Sir Joseph Gwankat made the appeal after he alleged that so far, the Mwaghavul people have lost over 500 lives and thousands of individuals displaced out of their ancestral homes by these marauding mercenaries.

He addressed a press conference in Jos, the state capital shortly after a night attack on yet another community near the headquarters of the council area which claimed about nine lives.

He said “It is, therefore, surprising that our attackers who have destroyed our villages and killed our people in large numbers are the ones that are crying most after inflicting so much pains and agony on our people. This evil act is being perpetrated under Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).

“Our villages deserted due to the attacks by the Fulani militia have become grazing fields for the Fulani herders. The following is the list of our villages attacked by Fulani terrorist herdsmen based on districts (as of 7th July 2023) and the number of people killed.

“Murish, Dungmunan, Kubat, Tim Naanle, Pil, Fungzai, Manja, and Chisu. Number of people killed – 70

Kombun District: Fungkipang, Nting, Number of people killed – 5
Mangu District: Jwaktumbi, Kantoma, Mangul, Alohom 1, Alohom 2, Gongon, Dan Hausa, Kikyau 1 and 2, Gudum, Tyop, Kwaskipanleng, Gaude, Bure, and Ntam. Number of people killed – 70

Bungha District: Jwak Raas. No death
Panyam Branch: Changal, Kombili, Washna, Jwak Chom, Larkas, Fushi, Kwahas, Dangdai, Atuhun, Adep, Ajing, Daika, Dikong, Lakopal, Kogul, and Niyes. Number of people killed – 30

Pushit District: Lakasi, Gwet 2, Gwet 1, Mutong, Keptul, Gung, Pyantuhul, Kus Hi, Nbwor, Vodni, Pwaskop, and Nten. Number of people killed – 17

Kerang District: Konji. Number of people killed – 8
Total Killed: 204. Many are still missing.
Total Villages Attacked: 53
These facts are verifiable”, he lamented.

He further alleged that “Miyetti Allah through one Muhammed Salihu Musa, Secretary of MACBAN, Mangu LGA, and Nura Abdullahi, Chairman, MACBAN, Plateau State, have gone viral on social media with spurious allegations, claiming that Operation Rainbow operatives attacked them in Mangu LGA, suggesting that they acted in support of our people who have been living at God’s mercy.

“We find this not only amusing but also a calculated attempt to paint black the image of the State Government, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, and to suggest that it is biased in handling the situation.

“Let it be known that these antics of MACBAN are not new. They have made spurious claims in the past, and they are still making it on the real situation in Mangu LGA. It is therefore not surprising that the same aggressors who have been having their field day on our people will still turn around and claim innocence, just to hide their heinous crimes.

“We challenge MACBAN to provide evidence of their claims. We want to state in clear and unequivocal terms that MACBAN and their terrorist members are simply running away from their own shadow, due to the heinous crimes they have committed in Mwaghavul land. It is in the public domain that MACBAN has been hiring foreign mercenaries to attack communities, including ours”.

Also, he placed it on record that on Wednesday 5th July, two women were attacked and killed in Mper and Millet in Kombun District with the following day 6th July, there was an attack on Kogul and Five (5) persons were killed.

“We, therefore, strongly suggest that the Federal Government should declare MACBAN a terrorist organisation because of the heinous crimes that its members are perpetrating in various parts of Nigeria.
We urge the Government to take full responsibility of educating children below the age of 10 who have lost both parents as a result of the attacks, while arrangements are made for the SS3 students whose WAEC Exams were disrupted as a result of these attacks”

The Mwaghavul people are a peace-loving people, he stressed, adding that they have never attacked anyone, and will never attack anyone as the people are determined to live in peace with “our good neighbours and good ethnic nationalities we are privileged to serve as their hosts”

Meanwhile, the new GOC who doubles as the Commander of the OPSH has assured that the outfit would be “firm, decisive and fair” as it take responsibility of the ongoing attacks in the area and other locations.