Manji Le’an has said their neighbours rejoiced while burning their house in Mangu town in the latest killings that occurred in Plateau State.
Sometime in December 2023, armed men attacked Manji Le’an’s Dungwel community. He moved to stay with his uncle in Mangu town.
Though his house at Dungwel was not burnt he said he was wearied by the threats the attackers posed to the community. Hence, the need to relocate to a safer place.
However, the recent skirmish in the Mangu Local Government Area has put more burden on him as he said his blood pressure has gone up having managed to escape unhurt with his uncle, as their neighbours set the uncle’s house ablaze.
His words: “I left Dungwel on December 13 last year to stay with my uncle in his house near the EKAN Primary school in Mangu town. I thought I would have peace there. But as we speak, we have moved to Angwan Mission to stay with some relatives because my uncle’s house was burnt by his Muslim neighbours on Wednesday.
“We managed to escape unhurt but we heard and saw them rejoicing that we have been burnt in the house.
“Three days ago, some Fulani herders attacked some Mwaghavul youths around the Sabon Gari area. The youths in that area protested against the action. They were moving towards the ruga, (a Fulani settlement) to iron out the matter.
“However, before we knew it, the Muslims settlers at Sabon Kaswa (new market) started attacking their Mwaghavul neighbours. They were asking why the people would go to the ruga.
“The natives asked if they were supporting the actions of the Fulani herders that always attack the people. They said yes.
“The situation degenerated, leading to the burning of houses and the COCIN Church at Sabon Kaswa. The thing was snowballing from one place to the other and it got to our area around EKAN Primary School, where our Muslim neighbours also joined in burning houses.
“When the thing started in our area, we locked ourselves in the house because we didn’t think they would want to harm us.
“But surprisingly, we heard our neighbours asking if we were in. And when they confirmed it, they started throwing things on the zinc, breaking the windows as the rampaging youths approached.
“When we saw that the house was on fire, we sneaked out through the back door without a pin as the attackers were gathered at the front.
“As we were walking away, we could hear them saying ‘Mun kona baban dake cikin dakin’. Meaning ‘we have burnt baba inside the house’, referring to my uncle.
“We are still shocked that this could happen and my BP has gone up. We are waiting for the curfew to be lifted so that I can take my uncle to join his son in Jos.”
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