By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By By Peter Onyekachukwu
Tragedy has once again struck Plateau State as fresh violence erupted in Mangu Local Government Area, leaving at least 15 people dead in separate attacks that have reignited tensions between local communities.
Chairman of Mangu LGA, Emmanuel Bala, confirmed the killings, saying the attacks occurred over two days in different parts of the local government, with the latest incident happening on Tuesday night in Chinchim community, where eight residents were reportedly murdered.
“What we have is a total of eight dead, and the attack took place around 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday,” Bala told reporters. “People were in their houses when they were attacked. Mostly knives were used to destroy them. It was brutal.”
Bala further disclosed that another deadly assault took place earlier in Bwai district where seven people were killed, prompting a mass burial on Tuesday before the subsequent Chinchim attack occurred. He added that another incident occurred in Langai town, under the Gindiri axis, where houses were set ablaze and at least five people were confirmed dead.
Tensions have been high in Mangu for over a week, with persistent accusations and counter-accusations between the Mwaghavul and Fulani communities. The spiraling violence has led to loss of lives, destruction of homes, and fear among residents, many of whom now live in uncertainty.
However, the Fulani herding community in the area has strongly denied any involvement in the latest killings.
“We are unaware of any attack, but we condemn any act of criminality,” said Abubakar Garba, Secretary of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN). “We are a peaceful and law-abiding community. None of our members would recklessly launch an attack on any tribe. We urge security agencies to investigate thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Security operatives have yet to issue a formal statement on the latest killings, but calls for urgent intervention are growing louder amid fears of further reprisals.
As the cycle of violence continues, the people of Mangu are left grieving yet again, with many appealing for both state and federal authorities to provide lasting solutions that address the root causes of the conflict.