The Mwaghavul Youths Movement has clarified certain issues contained in the recent statement issued by the Military High Command on the reasons for the security challenge in Mangu. Recall that following the recent breakdown of law and order in Mangu Town, scores of lives were lost with property including places of worship destroyed.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters had through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, in a media briefing with journalists in Abuja on Thursday 25th January 2024 said that the crisis is rooted in an incident of cattle rustling last Monday in the community.
He explained that the Mangu crisis was caused by cattle rustling and the killing of a Wagungun man who was riding his motorbike when he suddenly collided with cattle on January 22, 2024.
However, the Mwaghavul Youths Movement debunked the allegation describing the situation as “unwarranted and unprovoked genocide on the Peace loving Mwaghavul Nation…”. They also described the publication by the military as “unbelievable”, adding that it does not represent the true state of the issues surrounding the recent breakdown of law and order.
They expressed their “…deepest concern and disappointment regarding the inaccuracies therein in the report of the Director, Defence Media Operation in the person of Major General Edward Buba”.
In a statement issued by the Secretary of the Media Committee of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement, Tubwot Joel Sunday and made available to this medium in Jos on Sunday 28th January 2024, it was noted that “Normally, the Mwaghavul Youth Movement wouldn’t want to join words with the Military because of the institution’s attractive past glory and the respect we still have for few of the personnel who have demonstrated professionalism since the travail for the Peace of Mangu Local Government Area began, but for the injustice, unprofessionalism and nepotistic approaches of some of the personnel and the report of the most recent incidents in Mangu.
The group said that they found it very “…compelling at this point to set the record straight and to free the world from the error and fallacy poorly garnished and cheaply sold to it by those who owe us the duty of protecting our lives and properties.”.
Chief amongst the issues being controverted by the Mwaghavul Youths is that fact that the Okada Rider which the military claimed ran into a herd of cattle and was killed is very much alive. They gave his name as one Ebenezer Caleb. “It is Worthy of note that contrary to the wrong narrative, Mr Ebenezer Caleb is alive and not dead as alleged by the Military.”. The President of Mwaghavul Youth Movement S.D Dankaka confirmed this development to our correspondent via telephone.
According to the group “As a mark of proof that the ARMY has in it’s report, successfully fabricated and fed Nigerians and the world with wrong information about the reality that has bedeviled the Mwaghavul Nation, the okada Rider mentioned by army in it’s publication did not run into cattles and he wasn’t killed on the spot by the Fulani terrorists as painted by the security agency.”.
“The Genesis of the recent unrest within Mangu LGA of Plateau State as reported by the Army’s authority began on 22/01/2024 at exactly 17:45hrs, roughly 60 metres away from the military check point in-between Mangu and Sabon Gari of Mangu LGA”, they said.
They narrated that “Ebenezer Caleb, an Okada rider had carried a female passenger by name Mrs Janet Fidelis. These two Innocent souls along other commuters patriotically stopped to allow for the free passage of the Fulani boys and their cows as they cross the main road. After all the cows, about 200 of them had successfully crossed the road alongside the Fulani boys, an under-age Fulani boy who was left behind then accused Ebenezer and the Sabon Gari people of disallowing the Fulani to graze on their land, fearlessly disclosed that he will kill Ebenezer.”
“Immediately, the small Fulani boy attacked Mr Ebenezer and Mrs Janet Fidelis who both fell from the motorcycle before the very watchful eyes of the Military that had sworn and are paid to protect every Nigerian irrespective of ethnicity and religion.”
“As another Okada rider who was also passing saw what happened, he moved to scare the Fulani boy with a stone-throw so as to save Mr Ebenezer and his passenger from any unfortunate circumstance.”
“The other fulani boys who were with the cattle, and had already crossed and had left the small Fulani boy behind, quickly Made a U-turn and joined in inflicting injuries on Ebenezer and also damaged his motorcycle in the process.” they added.
The statement further narrated that “According to Mrs Janet, his passenger, no action was taken by the military men who were just few meters away from the scene. She then ran and called the attention of some youths from the nearby community, Sabon Gari.”
“Eventually, it was these youths that came to the rescue of Mr Ebenezer, Mrs Janet and the other Okada rider whose attention was attracted by the pains and screams of Mr Ebenezer while he was being attacked by the Fulani boys.”
They noted Sadly, that the security personnel who watched what had happened between the two parties from the start, after allowing things to go bad decided to reluctantly intervene and quickly escorted the Fulani boys to a nearby community called, Aloghom. This happened when they saw the youths from Sabon Gari coming out to help in the rescue of Mr Ebenezer who was going through a lot in the hands of the Fulani boys, according to them.
They informed that trouble start the next day, when there were attempts to attack Mwaghavul communities. “The following day, Tuesday 23/01/2024, following the attempts the previous day, the youths of Sabon Gari became vigilant and decided to keep active surveillance, seeing that no arrest was made by security agents despite provocations by Fulani, the securities who are being paid with tax payers money”.
They noted that “In another attempt by the Fulani, in an attempt to protect our community, one thing led to another and it resulted in a clash and the Fulani’s took to their heels for safety into a nearby community called, Derkong.”
They narrated that “The Hausa/Muslim community in Derkong then came out to assist the Fulani to fight. After some time, the drama drew the attention of military who later joined the Hausa/Fulani to prevent any breakdown of law and order.”
“While that was ongoing, the Muslim Youths killed a Mwaghavul Youth by name Mr Nanchin Pofi who resides within their community. After a while, the House of Late Baba Bitrus Zuhumtu, the Village head of Derkong was set ablazed by them. Many Mwaghavul people were killed, scores injured and their properties destroyed, while some were looted”.
The group noted that “The killings and burning of Houses of Mwaghavul people by the Hausa/Fulani Youths in the said community sparked same action by their fellows in other communities, starting with Derdep within Mangu LGA.”.
They group said that “The rapid action appeared to be a highly coordinated and premeditated act by both the Hausa and Fulani.” “The Mwaghavul Youth Movement wishes to State categorically, that from day one, the Fulanis were the people who started manufacturing trouble from non-existing provocative actions.”
“It is on record and heaven bears us witness, that Mwaghavul Youths didn’t attack any Muslim community neither did they make an attempt to rustle cattles belonging to the Fulani (as misconstrued by the Army spokesperson), rather, they only acted in defence when the Hausa Fulani attacked them and any other time the Fulani came on same Mission.” they added.
“Therefore, the entire Mwaghavul Youth Movement frowns at the motive of the particular publication of the Military, which is misrepresentation of facts, hence we consider it very unfair and unjust as it has portrayed the entire Mwaghavul Nation in bad light.”, part of the statement said.
The group noted that “However, this expression of disappointment in the military does not in any way, undermine genuine efforts of some of the personnel in tackling insecurity in the locality and elsewhere. The Mwaghavul Youth Movement acknowledges and applauds the ferocious energy being put by patriotic personnel in ensuring that Mwaghavul Nation reclaims it’s position as one of the most peaceful Local Governments in Nigeria and, we’ll continually call on the operatives to do more and be fair to all in the discharge of their duties”, they concluded.
The full text is presented as received;
“MANGU GENOCIDE: MWAGHAVUL YOUTH MOVEMENT CLARIFIES ISSUES REGARDING THE ALLEGATION MADE BY ARMY HEADQUARTERS
In light of the resurgence of unwarranted and unprovoked genocide on the Peace loving Mwaghavul Nation which had birthed an unbelievable publication/production of the Nigeria Military/ Operation Safe Haven, the above-mentioned Youth body wishes to express it’s deepest concern and disappointment regarding the inaccuracies therein the report of the Director, Defence Media Operation in the person of Major General Edward Buba.
Normally, the Mwaghavul Youth Movement wouldn’t want to join words with the Military because of the institution’s attractive past glory and the respect we still have for few of the personnels who have demonstrated professionalism since the travail for the Peace of Mangu Local Government Area began, but for the injustice, unprofessionalism and nepotistic approaches of some of the personnels and the report of the most recent incidents in Mangu, We find it very compelling at this point to set the record straight and to free the world from the error and fallacy poorly garnished and cheaply sold to it by those who owe us the duty of protecting our lives and properties.
As a mark of proof that the ARMY has in it’s report, successfully fabricated and fed Nigerians and the world with wrong information about the reality that has bedeviled the Mwaghavul Nation, the okada Rider mentioned by army in it’s publication did not run into cattles and he wasn’t killed on the spot by the Fulani terrorists as painted by the security agency.
The Genesis of the recent unrest within Mangu LGA of Plateau State as reported by the Army’s authority began on 22/01/2024 at exactly 17:45hrs, roughly 60 metres away from the military check point in-between Mangu and Sabon Gari of Mangu LGA.
Ebenezer Caleb, an Okada rider had carried a female passenger by name Mrs Janet Fidelis. These two Innocent souls along other commuters patriotically stopped to allow for the free passage of the Fulani boys and their cows as they cross the main road.
After all the cows, about 200 of them had successfully crossed the road alongside the Fulani boys, an under-age Fulani boy who was left behind then accused Ebenezer and the Sabon Gari people of disallowing the Fulani to graze on their land, fearlessly disclosed that he will kill Ebenezer.
Immediately, the small Fulani boy attacked Mr Ebenezer and Mrs Janet Fidelis who both fell from the motorcycle before the very watchful eyes of the Military that had sworn and are paid to protect every Nigerian irrespective of ethnicity and religion.
As another Okada rider who was also passing saw what happened, he moved to scare the Fulani boy with a stone-throw so as to save Mr Ebenezer and his passenger from any unfortunate circumstance.
The other fulani boys who were with the cattle, and had already crossed and had left the small Fulani boy behind, quickly Made a U-turn and joined in inflicting injuries on Ebenezer and also damaged his motorcycle in the process.
According to Mrs Janet, his passenger, no action was taken by the military men who were just few meters away from the scene. She then ran and called the attention of some youths from the nearby community, Sabon Gari.
Eventually, it was these youths that came to the rescue of Mr Ebenezer, Mrs Janet and the other Okada rider whose attention was attracted by the pains and screams of Mr Ebenezer while he was being attacked by the Fulani boys.
Sadly, the security personnels who watched what had happened between the two parties from the start, after allowing things to go bad decided to reluctantly intervene and quickly escorted the Fulani boys to a nearby community called, Aloghom. This happened when they saw the youths from Sabon Gari coming out to help in the rescue of Mr Ebenezer who was going through a lot in the hands of the Fulani boys.
As at 7PM same day, less than two hours from the time the tragedy began, the Fulanis mobilized and attempted attacking Sabon Gari community but they were repelled by the Youths.
The following day, Tuesday 23/01/2024, following the attempt the previous day, the youths of Sabon Gari became vigilant and decided to keep active surveillance, seeing that no arrest was made by security agents despite provocations by Fulani, the securities who are being paid with tax payers money.
In another attempt by the Fulani, in an attempt to protect our community, one thing led to another and it resulted in a clash and the Fulani’s took to their heels for safety into a nearby community called, Derkong.
The Hausa/Muslim community in Derkong then came out to assist the Fulani to fight. After some time, the drama drew the attention of military who later joined the Hausa/Fulani to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
While that was ongoing, the Muslim Youths killed a Mwaghavul Youth by name Mr Nanchin Pofi who resides within their community. After a while, the House of Late Baba Bitrus Zuhumtu, the Village head of Derkong was set ablazed by them. Many Mwaghavul people were killed, scores injured and their properties destroyed, while some were looted.
The killings and burning of Houses of Mwaghavul people by the Hausa/Fulani Youths in the said community sparked same action by their fellows in other communities, starting with Derdep within Mangu LGA. The rapid action appeared to be a highly coordinated and premeditated act by both the Hausa and Fulani.
It is Worthy of note that contrary to the wrong narrative, Mr Ebenezer Caleb is alive and not dead as alleged by the Military.
The Mwaghavul Youth Movement wishes to State categorically, that from day one, the Fulanis were the people who started manufacturing trouble from non-existing provocative actions.
It is on record and heaven bears us witness, that Mwaghavul Youths didn’t attack any Muslim community neither did they make an attempt to rustle cattles belonging to the Fulani (as misconstrued by the Army spokesperson), rather, they only acted in defence when the Hausa Fulani attacked them and any other time the Fulani came on same Mission.
Therefore, the entire Mwaghavul Youth Movement frowns at the motive of the particular publication of the Military, which is misrepresentation of facts, hence we consider it very unfair and unjust as it has portrayed the entire Mwaghavul Nation in bad light.
However, this expression of disappointment in the military does not in any way, undermine genuine efforts of some of the personnel in tackling insecurity in the locality and elsewhere. The Mwaghavul Youth Movement acknowledges and applauds the ferocious energy being put by patriotic personnel in ensuring that Mwaghavul Nation reclaims it’s position as one of the most peaceful Local Governments in Nigeria and, we’ll continually call on the operatives to do more and be fair to all in the discharge of their duties.
Tubwot Joel Sunday
Media Secretary,
For;
Mwaghavul Youth Movement
28th January, 2024″
Nigeria Star News 