The first victim of Mangu attack of 22 January 2024, that later snowball into the heart of Mangu town claiming about 91 lives with 128 injured, Mr. Ebenezer Caleb has countered military report that his is not death but still alive despite the attack on him.
The survivor acknowledged that he was attacked by some Fulani boys who threatened to kill him alongside his passenger Mrs Jenifer Fidelis but was rescued by his kinsmen who rushed to his help after he was hit with a stick and fell on the ground that faithful day.
Ebenezer made this clarification yesterday ,during an International World Press Conference put together by Equity International Initiative (EII) on incessant killings in Plateau State held at Crispan Hotel in Jos the Plateau State capital.
He recalled the origin of the unfortunate unrest which engulfed Mangu municipal thus, “What I can say here is that what the military said is not the truth. I was not killed I am alive today to the glory of God. I am an Okada rider, what happened that day was that I was driving from Mangu town back to my village in Sabon gari.
“So, Fulani people were passing with their cows; they stopped me on the way so that their cattles could pass, I stopped. unfortunately when they have passed, the man told me to move. As I was moving on, a small Fulani boy told me that since we have been disturbing them, we do not want them to drink water.
“They will start by killing us on the Federal Road, so that people will know that yes they are not joking. So, I asked him, are you going to kill me? He said yes. So one of them removed a matchete and the other one removed a knife. So you want to kill me? They said yes. They said now, they must kill me before anything could happen.
“Fortunately, one of my colleague (Okada rider),who was driving by, saw me and he saw the children standing with their weapons to kill me; they hit me with a stick and I fall down on the ground, but quickly stood up again, so my colleague took a stone and threw it at them.
“Unfortunately, when I was returning back to pick my motorcycle, They broke the front of my bike before I would realize, people from various places, and from my communities have gathered and chased them away.
“Nobody was killed, the only thing the military did was to escort the cattle and the people, that is the Fulani boys, to their base they did not ask me anything.” Ebenezer explained
The President of Mwagavul Youth Movement Worldwide, Mr Dawap Sunday Dankaka, earlier disclosed that so far the unfortunate development of 22 January 2024 has left 91 people killed,while still searching for those missing at the moment.
“We have heard what the Military went on Air to say that the young man driving motorbike ran into cattle and he was beaten by the Fulani and they killed him, but that is not correct, see the person they said was killed here Mr Ebenezer Caleb.” He stated
“The number of deaths we have so far recorded from 22 January,2024 to date, is 91 and we are still counting even this morning there are report of those still missing. We have 42 women, 37 children and 12 men, about 128 injured persons of different degrees of injuries scattered across eight hospitals including JUTH here in Jos.
“Houses burnt were 414 houses, 202 shops looted and burnt, about nine Mosque down and about 15 Churches also down.” He lamented
The Country Director of Equity International Initiative Amb. Chris Iyama has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Federal Lawmakers to expedite legislation for the establishment of State Police to enable State governors curtailed such ugly happenings before the intervention of Federal Police as seen in other societies
According to Iyama, Equity International condemned in strong terms the unprovoked attack on humanity, regardless of the reasons behind them, adding that there was no justification for the killing of innocent people at night in their sleep.
“We are aware that state governors do not command troops to make arrests, hence we are calling on the National Assembly to expedite action and pass the law to enable for the creation of State Police so that Governors can take swift actions considering that they are the first respondents in the event of any security problems.
“Whenever, Governors are made to Command some level of security in the country, it will give room for citizens to question those security votes that the Federal government have been giving to State Governors.” He appealed.
The organization called for immediate initiation of modalities to compensate communities whose property and farmlands were destroyed, thereby creating huge implication for food insecurity and scarcity in no distance time across the state, as well as humanitarian interventions to cushion their plights at the moment.
“This is because the communities attacked are one of the largest farming communities in Plateau State and Nigeria at large.” Iyama insisted
However the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) incharge of Zone 4 AIG Ebong Eyibio who was represented by the Police Publlic Relations Officer ( PPRO), Alfred Alabo on 25 January,2024 said 10 corpses were recovered with ten houses burnt down while nine suspects were arrested.
“So far, over 10 corpses have been recovered from various locations, two injured persons currently receiving treatment at the hospital, one car and Ten houses were burnt down. Eight (8) suspects from the December 24th 2023 attack and the nine (9) suspects arrested in connection with the recent attacks in the state.”;Says Eyibio
Recalled that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja during his visits to the trouble Mangu LGA ordered troops of the 3 Division Nigerian Army and the Joint Task Force Operation Safe Haven to adopt more aggressive posture and decisively stamp out terrorists causing mayhem in Plateau and contiguous states.
According to the COAS, “Go hard on those disturbing the peace of the Plateau and neutralize any terrorist annihilating people and burning or destroying property and other economic valuables.
“Our Operations and activities must be in compliance with the rules of engagement and devoid of sentiments”, he equally cautioned troops
Source: The Sun
