The Mwaghavul ethnic group in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State has decried the devastating toll of ongoing violent attacks by armed herdsmen, revealing that over 600 lives have been lost, more than 65,000 people displaced, and 6,111 homes destroyed within the past two years.
Kyesmang Yusuf, the National President of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday, describing the scale of destruction as a coordinated genocide against the Mwaghavul people.
“More than 30 villages out of 103 affected communities have been sacked,” Yusuf stated, lamenting that the Fulani terrorists behind these attacks have shown neither remorse nor concern for human life. “They continue to ambush and kill innocent villagers on their farms or in transit, far beyond our homeland,” he added.
Plateau State has been plagued by a series of violent attacks in recent times, including the burning of homes and mass killings in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu LGAs. Yusuf described the situation in Mangu as particularly harrowing, noting that the group has suffered heavily since the violence began in April 2023.
He called for state-wide solidarity among ethnic groups to stand united against the common threat, stressing that violence has never been a successful method for resolving disputes. “There are traditional and institutional frameworks for resolving conflict, yet the Fulani elements in our area have opted for destruction,” he said.
The group also raised alarm over intelligence pointing to more planned attacks, triggered by inflammatory accusations from certain Fulani individuals. They appealed to the government and security agencies to act swiftly—by providing security, conducting thorough investigations, prosecuting offenders, and empowering communities to defend themselves legally.
Yusuf concluded by urging the Nigerian Army to investigate the recent destruction of farmland by suspected herdsmen in Mangu and its surrounding communities, warning that the silence of authorities only emboldens further violence.
