The Mwaghavul ethnic group in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State has decried the persistent attacks on its people, which have reportedly claimed over 600 lives in the last two years.
Speaking on Friday, the National President of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement, Kyesmang Yusuf, revealed that the violence had displaced more than 65,000 residents and led to the destruction of at least 6,111 homes across the region.
According to Yusuf, the Mwaghavul people have borne the brunt of repeated assaults by armed herdsmen, who continue to terrorize communities without remorse or accountability.
“Over 30 villages have been completely overrun out of the 103 affected communities. These relentless attacks have not only destroyed lives and homes but have left a trail of suffering and uncertainty for our people,” he stated.
The Plateau region has witnessed repeated outbreaks of violence, with Mangu, Bokkos, and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas suffering recent coordinated assaults that left many dead and properties razed.
Describing the situation as a “coordinated genocide,” Yusuf accused the attackers, whom he identified as Fulani extremists, of deliberately targeting innocent individuals, including farmers going about their daily activities.
He lamented the breakdown of long-standing peaceful relations between ethnic groups in the region, saying that rather than pursuing dialogue or traditional dispute resolution, the attackers have chosen a path of bloodshed.
Yusuf also raised an alarm over alleged plans for further violence, citing recent threats and accusations from some Fulani elements as signs of an impending attack.
The group urged both state and federal authorities to step in with urgent measures to protect the Mwaghavul people. They called for improved security, thorough investigations into the violence, and swift prosecution of those responsible.
In addition, they appealed to the Nigerian Army to look into recent incidents involving the destruction of crops in Mangu and surrounding areas, allegedly carried out by herders.