The management of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement, MYM, has countered a report by the Plateau State chapter of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, GAFDAN, the place it insinuated that the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, in Langai Ward Mangu Local Government Area was attacked by Mwaghavul militias.
GAFDAN had in an announcement shared on its Facebook web page on Saturday, accused Mangu youths of finishing up the assault on the MACBAN Chairman, Yakubu.
The group added that the Mwaghavul militias had been on a mission to steal cows in a Fulani settlement after they attacked and shot the MACBAN Chairman.
In the assertion collectively signed by the President, Comr. Kyesmang Jonathan-Yusuf and the Director of Public Affairs, Tubwot Joël-Sunday, the MYM stated it rejected the allegations and challenged GAFDAN to provide proof that the attackers had been Mwaghavul youths.
“The Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) has categorically and unequivocally denied an allegation going round that the MACBAN Chairman in Langai Ward, Mangu Local Government of Plateau State was recently shot by “Mwaghavul militiamen,” the statement read.
Continuing, the organization said: “There is no Mwaghavul militia in Plateau for anyone to accuse. These allegations are at best frivolous and fabricated to cast aspersion on the entire Mwaghavul people in Plateau.
“Our youths are law-abiding farmers and vigilantes who only defend their ancestral homes against unprovoked attacks.
“The Mwaghavul Youth Movement hereby categorically and unequivocally deny this spurious allegation. There is no Mwaghavul militia.
“This narrative is a deliberate attempt to divert attention and criminalise victims. The fact that the writer admits no independent investigation has established the identities of the attackers says a lot.
“What is well established and on record is the penchant of these armed groups for killing their own, especially the patriotic and moderate ones, who refused to cooperate with their expansionist and terror agenda.
“From our findings, the incident was on account of an intra-group feud between rival Fulani gangs.
“We have observed that over time, Fulani leaders who preach peaceful coexistence and resisted being recruited into banditry, cattle rustling, and attacks on farming communities have become targets of their own extremist brothers/factions.
“We have seen this pattern repeatedly in parts of Plateau State. We note that not all Fulanis share in this expansionist and terror agenda.
“We know, and we affirm that there are very minute peace-loving Fulani herders who want to coexist peacefully, and who do condemn the killing of farmers and the destruction of crops.
“The extremist armed groups see these moderates as betrayers, and they eliminate them when they want. This attack on the MACBAN Chairman appears to be one of such cases.
“Therefore, the try and hyperlink the peace-loving Mwaghavul individuals to MACBAN Chairman’s assault is mischievous and a calculated try and trigger ethnic stress.
“In as a lot because the Mwaghavul individuals stay dedicated to peace, we want to re-emphasize that peace should be anchored on fact, justice, and fairness.”
