The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Rev. Timothy Daluk, has accused the Nigerian Army of overseeing the killings of Christians and destruction of properties in Plateau State.
Mr. Daluk made these damning accusations in a video made public on social media on Wednesday.
“I am here to report the situation happening in Mangu local government so that the whole world can understand it. What is happening in Mangu at this particular moment is the military sending our people far away for the militias to burn their homes,” he said agitatedly.
The CAN president accused the army of repressing predominantly Christian areas while Muslims wreaked havoc there.
“At that very moment, they sent all the Christians out of the new market, leaving the Muslims to come and burn their houses. They set a curfew. The curfew is limited only to people living in Mangu – in the Christian area. Within the Muslim domain, they are free to move and do whatever they want.
He further accused the army of killing youths, while accusing fake soldiers of being responsible for the killings.
“And that’s not all, the army killed three of our young men, to my knowledge. One is in front of my church. They killed one yesterday, and I went to security, and he said they were fake soldiers,” he said.
“At first he said I was lying until I proved it beyond a reasonable doubt, then he finally said they were fake soldiers. I said no, they weren’t fake soldiers; it was a real soldier who killed him. Finally, they signaled the soldier and he disappeared from the scene,” he added.
He further accused the soldiers of switching off their phones as tensions escalated in and around Mangu.
“Now that I’m talking to you, they all turned off their phones and let the place be burned and looted by the people. And that’s what’s happening now that I’m talking to you.
“People around Gindiri junction (called to other places which were inaudible) now have their houses on fire because the soldiers protected them and allowed them to burn people’s houses. They’re not doing anything about it,” he said.
Frustrated by the military’s allegedly lackadaisical attitude to the crisis in Mangu, the CAN president declared that they had had enough and did not want any more military presence.
“We don’t want soldiers in Mangu local government. They should pack their bags and leave. We don’t want it,” he said.
“We don’t need it and we don’t want it. Because the plan, they were bought. They were paid a price for carrying out their duty. I appeal to the world to understand that this thing must stop and people must come to our aid to save us otherwise this is an evil plan on their part to destroy Mangu local government. Because the governor is from here and we are not going to allow it,” he added.
Mr Daluk said since the military will not help defend them against militias who have destroyed lives and properties, they will take matters into their own hands.
“The military should continue to kill us. We accept that they will kill us, but we are not going to stop. I will organize all Christians in Mangu Local Government Area. We will fight. We’re not going to stop, and that’s what I said,” he said.
“Enough is enough. We have cried, but the government is not listening. If they turn off their phones, where else can we take our cries?'” he questioned.
Speaking on the recent incident in Mangu, Deputy Chairman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Mangu LGA, Malam Adamu Abdulsalam, told Daily Trust newspaper on Wednesday that six mosques were burnt and eight people were killed, according to available records. for them.
The stance of the two clergymen comes a day after a fresh crisis erupted in Mangu Local Government Area of the state which left many dead and properties destroyed on Tuesday.
Although the governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has declared a 24-hour curfew, the killings and destruction continue.
Peoples Gazette contacted defense spokesperson Onyema Nwachukwu for comment, but he did not respond to calls or messages for clarification at the time of writing this report.
