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The national headquarters of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), after careful situational assessment and follow-up of events that unfolded, after the Plateau Christian Mobs attack on unsuspecting and defenseless Muslim travelers (who were on their way to a wedding in Quanpan), Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state, joins other well-meaning Nigerians to condemn in the strongest term the barbaric act of the lawless Christian youths.
To say the least, the Plateau Christian Militias have shown the world that their bestial demeanor knows no bounce; it only changes location and time for barbarism. It is on record that their heinous activities had once led to the declaration of state of emergency in 2004, by the then
President Olusegun Obasanjo. They have continued to perpetrate serial attacks on innocent Muslims travelling along routes of the Plateau over the years. In fact, they brazenly attacked Muslim worshipers on an Eid day on Tuesday, 30th August, 2011, at the Rukuba Road Eid praying ground. They in a most cruel fashion displayed on cameras how they roasted Muslims and exposed the victims’ skulls.
More distressing is the attempted rationalizing of the bloodthirsty mobs’ action by Mr. Emmanuel Bala,
the Mangu Local Government Council’s Chairman, saying that it was a ‘case of mistaken identity.’
It then means that the whole action was consciously executed. No wonder that in the same Mangu, a Jumu’ah –
Friday mosque was demolished and the premises turned to a market space. The case of some intolerant people preventing the rebuilding of the Central Mosque in Langtang North destroyed over two decades ago, is another case in point. It should be noted that before and after the grotesque slaying of Muslims in Plateau state, no serious punitive measures are taken against perpetrators over the years, by the Plateau State Government.
Therefore, the JNI wishes to unequivocally state that human life is everlastingly sacrosanct.
The diabolical act of the Plateau Christian Killer squads remains savage and cruel, by all standards.
Government at all levels must act and go beyond the rhetoric mere condemnation and setting up of committees without arresting the culprits. As the conventional (albeit ceremonial) condemnations are
issued by the Plateau State Government and the Federal authorities is not enough deterrence in checking
the excesses of the Christian cut-throaters of the rampaging murderers of innocent souls. Condemnation alone can never stop these repeated madness, hence a decisive action by Governments must be seen to be
done swiftly.
Justice delayed is justice denied. It is also disheartening that till this moment, the Plateau State Government is yet to visit the Government of Kaduna State and the deceased victim’s families.
When the Uromi killing happened we saw the promptness, with which the Governor of Edo State travelled to Kano State, calmed frayed nerves and assured Kano State Government of all necessary
reprimands. What then is holding back the Plateau State Government?
In fact, where in the world can this gruesome murder be perpetrated without attracting the attention of the
conscious and humanity? Has any Plateau citizen(s) ever been so dehumanised in other states of the federation? Aren’t they thinking that their uncivil bestial demeanor could lead to reprisals? The gory
pictures and narratives of the survivors from the repeated attacks are so mind boggling!
Moreover, are Nigerians not beginning to make mockery of them-selves in the comity of nations? Starting from 1994,
1995 and 1997 cycle of conflicts have erupted on the Plateau due to the intolerant and divisive tendencies
of the Plateau Christian bigots.
In the same Mangu Local Government Area, sometimes in 2001 over 300 lives were lost due to well-coordinated killings by the Christian chauvinists. The infamous Quan Pan, Yelwan Shendam and Kuru Genta massacre of the Muslims cannot be easily forgotten.
From 2022 to
2023, over 500 people were killed in Bassa, Jos North and Shendam local government councils, as well as Barikin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas. T
his is just to mention but a few.
The national headquarters of JNI is seriously disturbed by these worrisome patterns of Plateau killings.
The acts, while horrifying, are not unprecedented and it tend to normalise unlawful deaths in Nigeria. As a
matter of fact, on 3rd September, 2018, Brig. Gen. Idris M. Alkali (rtd) was ambushed and murdered around Dura-Du in Jos South. His body was dumped in a well—a chilling symbol of how Plateau roads devour travellers. In 2021, over 20 Muslims of Ikare extraction were murdered in Jos North, while travelling to the South-West from Bauchi.
That same year, 27 Fulani Muslims returning from Bauchi were lynched along Rukuba Road, Jos. In 2023, 11 traders were murdered along Gindiri–Mangu axis by assailants who vanished into the hills—without consequence. Daily reports indicate frequent profiling, intimidation, and killing of Muslims and northern travellers along Jos–Shendam, Jos–Barkin Ladi, and Mararaban Jama’a–Farin Lamba corridors.
In fact, Gen. Alkali’s assassination led to the discovery of so-called declared missing vehicles of passengers in the Du pond, whose passengers no one knows! Well, if
the late General’s meritorious 35 years with the Nigerian Army cannot earn him his liberty even after death, what more do we expect for ordinary unarmed citizens.
It is also disturbing that the Zuru Local Government Area killings and some parts of Kebbi state and Isa Local Government Area threats by bandits in Sokoto state, as well as the resurgence of Boko Haram in parts of the North East, especially in Borno state have continued untapped, as well as the killing of Muslims and destruction of mosques in some part of Benue state went unreported. However, the JNI condemned unequivocally the recent killing in Yelwata also in Benue state.
The Mariga (in Niger State)
killing of military officers by bandits is frightening and remains condemned.
This fratricidal trend is unprecedented in our hitherto peaceful societies’ past. Therefore, Governments must be proactive through intelligence gathering, public enlightenments and orientations.
Perpetrators of such attacks must be seen to be fully and justifiably brought to book to serve as deterrent to other would-be perpetrators.
JNI Headquarters’ Position
Having reviewed these tragic developments, we in the name of Allah, the Most High, implore against any
form of reprisal attack. Security agencies should be on the alert and intelligence gathering should be enhanced and intensified against any possible retaliatory attacks. Despite the fact that:
1) The Plateau killings have repeatedly been deliberate, targeted, and systemic.
2) The highways in Plateau State have become a death trap for travellers, especially Muslims.
3) Security responses remain disturbingly reactive, not preventive nor proactive.
4) Impunity reigns because arrests rarely translate into meaningful prosecution that leads to severe consequences.
JNI’s Demands
In light of the above, the JNI Headquarters demands:
1. Immediate and public prosecution of all suspects arrested in the Mangu killings. The process must be transparent, so as to serve as deterrent, for the Plateau Christian chauvinists seemed to be emboldened, by the government’s posture of not punishing culprits.
2. The Plateau State Government should pay for due compensation (Diyyah) to all the deceased families and it should take-up complete medicals of all the injured victims of the Mangun attack.
3. Mangu Local Government Council should also replace ABU’s 18-seater burnt bus.
4. The Plateau State Government in collaboration with relevant security agencies must rise against the tide of the Plateau Christians killer squad, through proactive measures, by nipping in the bud, as it has now blown off, thus small arms and light weapons (SALWs) in the hands of the criminals be mopped or else Nigeria will continue to witness the upswing of arms in the name of self-defense.
5. The Federal Government of Nigeria should be seen to be proactive on security matters.
The reoccurrence of security cataclysms (abductions, killings, renewed attacks of Boko Haram insurgents and ethnic violence here and there) in Nigeria is alarming, and there is urgent need for redress. Citizens are becoming more and more agitated, especially with the Mangun carnages.
Flashpoints are known and nothing seemed to be done. Thus, deployment of security personnel to flashpoints should be well-coordinated.
6. We also expect the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), and well-meaning civil societies and organisations to seriously seek redress for the deceased Mangun victims through the courts of law, because justice delayed is justice denied.
7. While we continue to express our sincere condolences to all the victims of the Mangun attack and several other security ridden communities, we are calling on the Nigerian Governors, relevant
security agents and agencies and nongovernmental organisations to find a lasting solution to these repeated, senseless killings becoming normalised in Nigeria.
8. Lest we forget, we call on Muslim communities both home and on transit to increase vigilance.
Leaders should also devise a tactic of protecting them-selves in collaboration with the security.
Women and children should not be travelled with especially to conflict prone states. 9. Finally, we call on the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) based in the Netherlands, to be thorough and objective on its data collation in Nigeria on killings and abductions.
They should seek for genuine information, for what their database has favours the
Christians. It is prejudiced and subjective.
Conclusion
The Kaduna State Government and all other stakeholders that calmed nerves in Kaduna State are well appreciated, for it would have been an entirely another story by now. Many organisations and bodies have issued press statements,condemning the despicable act.
May Allah (SWT) forgive all the deceased, console their respective families and bring respite to the injured and the traumatised. We pray that
Governments will wake fully to their primary and cardinal responsibilities. May each and every community be organised to fortify itself and the security conscious to guide against attacks by lawless
people.
We heartily commiserate with the victims as well as condole with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the recurring attacks in the Nigerian state.
Prof. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu
Secretary-General, JNI
