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Mangu Carnage: Defense HQ Blows hot and vows to go after anyone who destroys the reputation of the Nigerian military.

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

Mangu Carnage: Defense HQ Blows hot and vows to go after anyone who destroys the reputation of the Nigerian military.

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The defense headquarters have described the allegations of the CAN chair of Mangu in Plateau State as baseless and untrue.

A release signed by the spokesman of the Defense Headquarters, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, stated that a video released by the man of God was meant to malign the image of the entire military and that it was done in bad faith.

The release stated that “the attention of the Defense Headquarters (DHQ) has been drawn to a malicious video made by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Mangu Chapter, Reverend Timothy Daluk.

“The video has been circulating in the media, aiming to malign military personnel deployed to address the security challenges in the Mangu general area.

“The video made baseless and untrue accusations, claiming that the military is biased and supports a particular group against others.

“We categorically state that these accusations hold no truth, are malicious, and lack any reasonable foundation.

“It is important to recall that on January 23, 2024, there was a breach of security in the Mangu municipal area, resulting in the Government of Plateau State declaring a 24-hour curfew.

“Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN were reinforced in Mangu to enforce the curfew and bring the situation under control, thereby preventing its spread to other areas.

“The troops have carried out their duties professionally and in accordance with the rules of engagement.

“They have successfully arrested criminals involved in looting and burning properties, as well as recovered weapons.

“It is deeply disturbing that a religious leader, who is expected to demonstrate high levels of moral judgment and truthfulness, has resorted to spreading falsehoods about the military and its personnel.

“We want to reiterate that the military remains neutral, focused, professional, and committed to its constitutional role of protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens.”

The release made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja further stated that the military will deal with anybody found disobeying the law without bias or prejudice.

It called on the public to support the ongoing military operations aimed at decimating non-state actors operating in the troubled areas of the state, adding that they will not be distracted by baseless accusations but will rather remain steadfast in their commitment to restoring peace and security.

It went on: “We strongly caution individuals involved in making malicious comments against the military to cease such acts. Henceforth, any person found spreading falsehoods will face constitutional redress, regardless of their status in society.

“We sincerely appreciate the law-abiding citizens’ support and cooperation and assure the public of our unwavering dedication to preserving peace and security in the country.” the release posited

Video clip by the Mangu CAN chair

In the video making the rounds on social media, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the Mangu council area, Rev. Samson Daluk, has vowed to mobilize his people against the bandits on a killing spree against residents.

In the video clip made viral on Wednesday, he decried what he described as special treatment for the non-Christians who are allowed to move around while the Christians are restricted by the curfew, which he said was against human justice.

He said that the troops posted to take care of the Mangu enclave have been watching while the bandits ransack Mangu, which is the home town of the sitting governor of the state, Caleb Mutfwang.

The CAN boss alleged that the military was watching while the bandit militia burned down people’s homes around Gindiri Junction and other locations, and they protected the others.

In the video, he said, “For this reason, we do not want the military anymore. They should pack and go. They have been bought to carry out what they are doing. I am calling on the entire world to come and help us. This is a dangerous plot to destabilize and finally destroy Mangu, and we will not allow it to happen.

“We have tried all we can to stop this fracas and live peacefully in our domain, but we do not understand why this torment is lingering. If the military will not protect us, we may have to organize ourselves and stop these assailants from killing our people,” he said angrily in the video clip.

The incessant escalation of this lingering ethnic cleansing on the Plateau has actually been on since September 2001 to 2007 under Gov. Joshua Dariye; from 2008 to 2015 while Baba Jonah Jang held sway; from 2015 to 2023 with Simon Lalong as chief security officer; and from 2023 till date under Caleb Mutfwang, a former council chairman now Governor.

The peculiarity of the fracas between the residents and assailants is that when each governor takes over, the bandit militias have been recorded attacking the very ancestral territories they hail from.

Jang, a retired military officer, is Birom, so the entire Birom land and Bassa were made slightly ungovernable while he held sway.

But he weathered the storm by setting up “operation Rainbow,” which maintained vigilance against the bandit militia, whose known trademark is to kill, steal, and destroy before taking over the ancestral homes of the residents.

Now it’s Caleb Mutfwang, who is governor and from Mangu, and the theater of wickedness has been moved to the Mangu Bokkos axis, where he comes from.

The military is thoroughly overstretched, being present in 34 out of 36 states in the country, where they are fighting internal challenges created by the political class, who use religion to manipulate the people.

This reporter recalls that the people of Plateau,,however,r, have vowed that they will perpetually maintain the sanctity of their state, religion, and worship God the way they know and will resist any attempt to force them into another religion known to the bandits who have seized most of their farmlands for grazing their animals after destroying their crops.

Mangu Carnage: Defense HQ Blows hot and vows to go after anyone who destroys the reputation of the Nigerian military.

News

80 militants surrender arms, embrace amnesty in Cross River

Published

28 minutes ago

January 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

80 militants surrender arms, embrace amnesty in Cross River

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than 80 militants operating in the creeks of Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State have voluntarily surrendered their arms and embraced the state government’s peace and reintegration Amnesty framework.

The militants came out in large numbers from the creeks on Friday at Atimbo Rear Area under Operation OKWOK, within the Area of Responsibility of Headquarters 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army and is already being described by as a strategic breakthrough in the fight against coastal militancy and maritime crime in southern Cross River.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the surrender was the outcome of months of sustained military pressure combined with discreet dialogue involving community leaders, government officials and security agencies.

Two militant camps dismantled themselves in one coordinated move. The first camp, headed by ThankGod Ebikontei, popularly known as Ayibanuagha, presented 39 fighters. Four additional members, officials said, are expected to report in the coming days.

The second camp, commanded by John Isaac, alias Akpokolo, brought forward 41 fighters. His group, widely known along the waterways as the Akpokolo Marine Forces or “Border Boys,” had controlled large stretches of creeks linking Cross River to neighbouring coastal corridors.

Ten more of his fighters are also expected to join the amnesty process. In total, 80 militants formally stepped out of the creeks and into a state-supervised disarmament and rehabilitation programme.

The disarmament was not symbolic. A significant cache of weapons, equipment and operational assets was voluntarily handed over, illustrating the firepower the groups once commanded.

The sources said that items surrendered included AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, a Mark 4 rifle, a G3 rifle, multiple single-barrel guns, magazines, speedboats, high-powered boat engines, locally fabricated pistols and assorted military kits.

Of particular concern to security officials was the surrender of an explosive charge and live ammunition, which draw to the attention of the destructive capacity the groups had at their disposal. Also surrendered were machetes, camouflage clothing, tactical vests, knee and elbow guards, and communication tools, all of which painted a picture of organised armed groups rather than loosely structured criminal gangs.

For the Nigerian Army, the scale and quality of the surrendered items confirmed that the amnesty was reaching core actors, not just foot soldiers.

Brig.-Gen. P.O. Alimikhena, Commander of 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, described the development as a “confidence-building milestone” that validates the military’s dual-track strategy.

“This voluntary surrender shows that consistent operations, combined with constructive dialogue and strong collaboration with the Cross River State Government and other security agencies, can deliver peace,” Alimikhena said.

“We will continue to secure the environment while supporting lawful initiatives that reintegrate repentant youths and ensure lasting stability.”he said.

Military sources said the success in Akpabuyo followed intensified patrols, improved intelligence flow and engagement with local power structures in creek communities.

After the formal disarmament, the former militants were handed over to the Cross River State Government’s Rapid Response Team.
They are currently undergoing profiling by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Muka Sam Hotel in Ikot Ansa, Calabar.

The exercise is designed to verify identities, assess security risks and determine eligibility for rehabilitation, skills training and reintegration support. Officials said the profiling phase is crucial to ensuring that only genuine repentant militants benefit from the programme and that criminal elements do not exploit the amnesty.

Akpabuyo Local Government Area sits along a strategic maritime corridor that links Cross River’s inland communities to coastal and cross-border trading routes. For years, militancy in the area has affected fishing, boat transport, palm produce trade and cross-border commerce with Cameroon.

Sea robbery, illegal taxation of fishermen, extortion and violent turf battles turned the creeks into zones of fear. The collective withdrawal of two major camps in one day is therefore both a psychological and operational shift. It sends a signal that militancy is no longer the dominant survival strategy for youths in the area.

The Nigerian Army credited the success of the Akpabuyo amnesty to what it called “effective civil-military collaboration,” singling out the Cross River State Government under Gov. Bassey Edet Otu for sustained political backing, coordination and logistical support.

Sources said the state government’s willingness to invest in dialogue, rehabilitation and youth empowerment made the option of peace more attractive than continued life in the creeks.

Beyond the powerful images of surrendered weapons and surrendered men, officials insist the hardest phase lies ahead. Reintegration, monitoring and economic re-engagement will determine whether the peace holds or unravels.

Headquarters 13 Brigade has reaffirmed its commitment to consolidating the gains, warning that while the door to peace remains open, security forces will maintain pressure against any group that chooses violence over dialogue.

They has urged the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that the breakthrough in Akpabuyo is not an endpoint, but the foundation for a safer and more stable Cross River State.

80 militants surrender arms, embrace amnesty in Cross River

News

Zulum Dismisses Claims of Favoring Candidates for APC Congress

Published

8 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum Dismisses Claims of Favoring Candidates for APC Congress

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has firmly dismissed rumours circulating that he has anointed individuals for executive positions in the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) party congresses.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, the Governor described the claims as the handiwork of mischief-makers seeking to cause disaffection within the party.

Governor Zulum emphasised that he has not in any fora endorsed any candidate for any party position, whether in Gwoza Local Government Area or any of the state’s 27 local government areas.

“Let me categorically state that I have not anointed any person for the position of Chairman or Secretary of APC in Gwoza local government in the forthcoming party congress. I wish to also stress that I have not anointed any person for any position in the APC congress in any of the 27 local government areas,” Governor Zulum stated.

He further called on party members to disregard the false information, saying, “I am calling on our party faithful and supporters to disregard the rumour as it is a calculated attempt to create disaffection and derail the party from its trajectory.”

The Governor instead urged party stakeholders to continue constructive consultations aimed at identifying credible candidates to be fielded for all party positions.

Zulum Dismisses Claims of Favoring Candidates for APC Congress

News

VP Shettima Arrives In Guinea For President Doumbouya’s Inauguration

Published

8 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

VP Shettima Arrives In Guinea For President Doumbouya’s Inauguration

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of President-elect Mamady Doumbouya.

The Vice President was received by senior Guinean government officials and members of the Nigerian diplomatic corps ahead of the official ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 17, at the GLC Stadium in Nongo.

The inauguration of President Doumbouya follows his victory in the December 2025 general elections, signalling the formal end of a four-year military transition.

The Vice President’s attendance at the inauguration affirms Nigeria’s leadership role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its commitment to the restoration of constitutional order across the sub-region.

Under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, Nigeria has continued to position itself as a stabilising force, advocating for democratic governance as a prerequisite for regional prosperity.