By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Fresh violence has erupted in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, leaving at least four persons, including a 13-year-old boy, gruesomely killed and beheaded in the early hours of Thursday. The latest attack occurred around 2 am in the Gangaran Kwata area, reigniting tensions in a region already plagued by ethno-religious conflict and cycles of reprisal killings.
Witnesses said the attackers stormed the area and opened fire indiscriminately before killing and beheading their victims. The remains were later taken to the Central Mosque in Mangu for funeral prayers.
A religious leader in the community, Abdullahi Maicibi, confirmed the incident and expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation. “They just came and started shooting, without provocation. Four people were killed, including a young boy. We’re calling on the authorities to take immediate steps to restore order and bring those responsible to justice. We cannot allow a society where non-state actors take up arms with impunity.”
Another resident, Shagari Madaki, said many houses were set ablaze during the attack. “It was chaotic. We woke up to gunshots, fire, and death. We still don’t know what provoked this,” he said.
Musa Ibrahim, whose nephew was among the victims, gave a harrowing account. “We heard gunshots and tried to find out what was going on. When I came back, I was told my nephew had been killed and beheaded. He was just a child. There’s no justification for this kind of brutality.”
While the victims’ families mourn their losses, the incident has stirred more tension between local ethnic groups, with the Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) confirming the attack was a retaliatory move.
Speaking to journalists, Satmak Bala, spokesperson for MYM in Mangu District, claimed the violence was in response to earlier attacks on their people. “We don’t go out to attack anyone unprovoked. But if our people are killed, we will not fold our arms. What happened was a reprisal. Our woman and her son were attacked. The boy was butchered. We couldn’t watch that go unanswered,” he said.
He also issued a warning about the group’s stance: “Let the world know, no one can attack Mwaghavul Chiefdom and go free. We must defend our land and culture.”
Efforts to get a response from security agencies have so far yielded no results. Major Samson Zhakom, spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, did not respond to inquiries as of press time.
The recurring violence in Mangu and other parts of Plateau State continues to raise serious questions about the effectiveness of peacekeeping efforts and the role of government in mediating between aggrieved groups. Residents are urging the federal and state governments to intervene decisively before the situation escalates further.