Ongoing raids force curfew imposition in Nigeria’s Plateau state
By Masara Kim
Authorities in central Nigeria have imposed a 24-hour curfew in Mangu county, Plateau State following a series of distressing attacks targeting Christian villages near the capital city of Jos.
Casualties figures have remained unknown. As of 12:20pm, the situation remains tense, and threatens to degenerate to a religious war.
Citizen guards defending against the attacks have reportedly caused damages to the assailants, sparking more reactions in the surrounding areas by Muslim residents.
TruthNigeria witnessed a military helicopter flying toward the direction of Mangu at 12:15pm apparently to respond to the threats.
Locals tell TruthNigeria the attacks started last night and have continued in three villages—Sabon Gari, Sabon Kasuwa, and Alogom—all located within Mangu county, approximately 42 miles south of Jos.
The assailants, armed and chiefly belonging to the Fulani ethnicity charged with thousands of genocidal massacres, have left a trail of destruction, including the burning of numerous houses and, at least, a church, distressed locals tell TruthNigeria.
“As I am talking to you Mangu is on fire,” said a local Pastor, Bulus Daset.
“The Fulani started by attacking some of our youths last night in Alogom and continued today in the morning,” Daset said, revealing self defense guards in Christian communities are struggling to repel the attacks.
Gyang Bere, the Press Director to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, conveyed in a statement on Tuesday that the imposition of the curfew aims to effectively manage and control the “deteriorating” situation.
Despite these efforts, the exact number of casualties remains unknown.
The alarming incident closely follows another tragic event that transpired just one week ago in Bokkos county, where 11 lives were lost. The region has unfortunately witnessed a distressing pattern of violence, with over 200 lives lost in armed attacks that began on Christmas Eve in Bokkos.
