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

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.