Killing of 100 villagers in Nigeria’s North Central worries Amnesty International 

Abuja, 

Amnesty International has called on authorities to immediately investigate the killing of more than 100 villagers that caused tension in Nigeria’s North Central Plateau state.

Amnesty International described the killings which occurred in Fungzai and Kubwat on May 15, 2023 as horrific.

"The horrific attack on some communities of Mangu local government area in Plateau state, led to the death of over 100 people, while a search is still ongoing for dozens of people missing since the attack. Nigerian authorities must do more than merely condemning these horrifying attacks. Suspected perpetrators must be promptly brought to justice,’’ Amnesty International said in a tweet on Monday. 

Also read: Gunmen kill 63 security personnel in north west Nigeria 

Christian Solidarity International (CSI) also disclosed on May 22, 2023 that the "the death toll from the ongoing attacks on Christians in Mangu and Barkin Ladi in Plateau state has now risen to 120.’’ 

CSI in a tweet also said that some tribal militias attacked two Christian villages in Plateau state. They killed 40 people, it said in a tweet also. 

While funeral preparations were still underway on Monday, militias launched attacks on four more Christian villages in the same area.

The fresh outbreak of violence and the killing of dozens of communities members in Mangu has caused the Plateau state government to impose 24 hours curfew on the local government.

Reports say that suspected herdsmen launched the attacks on several communities including Fungzai and Kubwat, both villages in Mangu, where they burnt houses, destroyed farmlands and killed more than 100 people.

According to Mr Solomon Maren, a member of the House of Representatives from Mangu/Bokkos federal constituency, 17 communities were affected.

The state government has however initiated moves to increase the presence of security personnel in the affected areas to restore community confidence and foster engagement between the two tribal communities that are in conflict.

The government of Plateau said the curfew on Mangu Local Government Area was imposed to forestall further bloodshed and reprisal. 

Mr John Yakubu, who witnessed the attacks on May 16, 2023, said that in Fungzai community alone  had been recovered including those of the wife of his younger brother and her children.

The gunmen arrived in large numbers and started shooting. The panicky villagers started running but unknown to them, other gunmen laid ambush and shot at those trying to run away.

Governor Simon Lalong, in a statement expressed worry over the attacks.

Lalong said he “woke up on Tuesday to the distressing news of an overnight attack on Kubat Village in Mangu Local Government where some persons, including women and children, were reportedly killed.’’ 

Seriously disturbed

Lalong said he was seriously disturbed about the sad development and immediately directed security forces to pursue the attackers and ensure they were arrested. 
 
“This is yet another attempt by crises merchants and criminals to return the state to the dark days of pain and agony.’’

He vowed that the government would stop at nothing to ensure that those behind this scheme were dealt with mercilessly. 

"The murderers would not be allowed to go unpunished as this is an act that can neither be tolerated nor excused no matter the motive,’’ he warned. 

Plateau state which had been a beehive to Nigerians and foreigners because of its temperate weather and bustling economic and social activities had in the last three decades been isolated because of threat to peace resulting from violent ethnic and political tussles.

Many foreigners have fled the state and many other Nigerians had also relocated.

In 2022 alone, more than 1,289 people were killed in rival clashes that have defied solution.

The fight has been between Fulani and Baron people on the one side, and Christians and Muslims on the other hand.