By Sam Kayode
The leadership of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) has frowned at the current destruction of lives and properties in Mangu Council area of Plateau State.
A statement by Lawrence Kyarshik who is the Director Public Affairs stated that the MDA was saddened by the current breakdown of law and order in Mangu town which began on January 22 and continued on Wednesday 24th January 2024 without any resistance from the Security.
“This unfortunate event is currently going on under the watchful eyes of the military who have failed to give protection to law abiding residents of Mangu.
“The Executive Governor of Plateau State Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang yesterday in a swift reaction to curtail the situation imposed a 24hr curfew in Mangu Local Government only for the Fulani Jihadists to unleash mayhem on Kwahaslalek leaving over 30 people dead, houses completely raised down and properties including food items destroyed by fire.”
The statement further went on to stress that:” one then wonders how these criminals operated without any resistance from the Security personnel already deployed in the Local Government.
“Sadly enough, security alert received on Monday 22nd had shown that there were pending attacks in Mangu and other places, yet these carnages went on unhindered.
” As if that is not enough, even within Mangu, the Muslims took advantage of the curfew to burn down houses, killing unsuspected persons and destroying properties and churches.
” The MDA frowns at the activities of some of the military personnel who appear to be complacent in carrying the constitutional duties they swore to protect all citizens of the country irrespective of tribe and religion.
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” Eye witness report has it that while the military send our people away, they watch the Muslims burn down houses seamlessly.
” we are loosing confidence in the military each passing moment because their actions are clear that they have taken sides.
“Consequently, we wish to demand for complete withdrawal of the military to be replaced with MOPOLS and NSCDC as their roles in this conflict is highly suspicious.
At the moment our people are left at the mercy of God and the little they can do in self defence.” the statement noted.
The MDA used the opportunity to respond to a write up on the social media by one Safwan Umaru Yahya whom they said was accusing the Christians in Mangu of collaborating with the Plateau State Government, particularly Operation Rainbow to attack Muslim Ummah.
“In his social media space he claimed that the Police and Operation Rainbow are killing them, yet there was no sound of gunshot at the background of the video. This statement by Safwan Umaru Yahya is not only misleading but a complete fabrication of lies, distractive and meant to falsely attract sympathy to his people.
“The Mwaghavul Nation and Christians in Mangu have coexisted peacefully with Muslims in Mangu for decades.
” Most of them are even our brothers who have also married our daughters.
“They have allowed bad elements to settle amongst them and used them against their own brothers and sisters.
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” Remember, if you are a Mwaghavul Muslim and love Mangu LGA, you will not conspire with evil people against us.”
The statement also drew the attention of the public and the security agencies to another write up on social media by one Bala Umaru Kafel on ” Dr Nentawe Die heart Support Group” in Hausa ” PDP and Plateau, to sai kuje Mangu ku kwashe gawakin ku dafa ku ci hahahahassh”.
It went on:” we believe that the situation in Mangu should pain all of us. The destruction of human lives and properties doesn’t know whether you are are PDP, APC or any other political party hence should be rejected.
“This statement is unfortunate, unpatriotic and evil. We wish to call on our people to remain prayerful, defend yourselves and our land against all plans to intimidate us and God will give us victory.
“We also are calling on the security especially the military to put professionalism above personal interest in dealing with the situation in Mangu. Otherwise, our people when pushed to the wall, their response may escalate to the already bad situation.
“May God protect our land, fight the enemies of Mangu LGA and restore peace to us”, it concluded.
