At least eight people were killed as fresh violence erupted Monday, Jan. 22, in Mangu town of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who hails from the affected LGA, had imposed a 24-hour curfew in Mangu and environs following the violence in the area.
Reports indicated that while some people have been killed and others injured, many could not be traced after they fled their houses.
Religious leaders, security and government officials confirmed the development, with some sources alleging that it had to do with cattle rustling attempts that were resisted, resulting in full-scale mayhem, DailyTrust reports.
However, the Security Adviser to the Plateau State governor, retired Brigadier General Shipi Gakji attributed Monday’s conflict to a dispute over right of way, per the publication.
According to him: “The current happening in Mangu is as a result of a misunderstanding between two parties that escalated. But the security agencies are on the ground trying as much as possible to see that they bring everything to order.
“However, 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 said.
Residential houses, mosques and churches were reportedly burnt by assailants from both sides of the divide, it was learnt.
Speaking on the development, the Deputy Chairman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Mangu LGA, Malam Adamu Abdulsalam, said 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 said.
Imam Abdullahi Maisaje, the Chief Imam of Dawo Juma’at mosque, and Secretary of Ulama Council in Mangu, also confirmed to Daily Trust that his mosque was also burned down.
“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,” Maisaje said.
On the other hand, a resident of Mangu, Mathias Ibrahim, said the Monday incident spread to the 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 set ablaze.
A source said a youth who was attacked by the herders died as the fight spread to the town.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mangu Branch, Rev Timothy Daluk, said some deaths were recorded on both the Christian and Muslim sides, but that they were yet to get the exact figures.
He, however, said that some of his members were already confirmed dead, saying they were from the same family and were burnt in their houses. He gave their names as Dauda Nenpon and Beatrice Dauda.
He called for calm to be restored, saying that violence and killings are not in anyone’s good.
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