‘Many killed, houses destroyed’ in fresh attack on Plateau community

Many people have been reported killed, with several houses torched, during an attack on Sabon-gari village in Mangu LGA of Plateau state.

The attack occurred on Tuesday following a dispute between a native and a Fulani herder in the area.

Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau, had on Tuesday imposed a 24-hour curfew in Mangu LGA.

In recent weeks, several communities in Mangu have experienced recurring attacks by gunmen who kill residents and destroy structures in the area.

In an interview with journalists, Galji Shipi, special adviser to the governor on security and homeland safety, said the fresh crisis is not politically motivated.

PUNCH quoted Shipi as saying that supporters of the Fulani herder stormed the location and escalated the issue.

“The current situation in Mangu is a result of two people that escalated. The crisis is not political or has anything to do with the farmers-herders crisis,” he said.

“It was just two human beings that had an altercation and by coincidence, one of them happens to be a herder and the other person is a native.

“The native was crossing with his motorcycle and the Fulani was grazing his cattle and crossing the road and that obstructed traffic and there was an altercation between them.

“When that happened, the Fulani people came in support of their own and the natives also came in support of their own and the thing just got out of hand and that led to the imposition of curfew in Mangu.”

Bala Fwangji, a former lawmaker representing Mangu south, said several houses were burnt and many residents shot.

“What happened today in Mangu is not good at all. We just woke up to hear that some people are burning houses in Mangu and attacking anyone in sight,” Fwangji said.

“I cannot tell you how many houses were burnt, or the number of people attacked or killed, but these things happened today. But we thank God the security agents have been deployed and the situation is calm now.”

Also confirming the incident, Nanle Gujor, secretary-general of Plateau initiative for development and advancement of natives, said four persons lost their lives during the crisis.

“I returned to Jos from Abuja and given what happened in Mangu today, we are not happy,” Gujor added.

“We are still assessing the situation, but I was told that four persons were killed. I will let you know the details of the situation when we are done.”

Efforts to reach Alfred Alabo, police spokesperson in the state, for comments, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.