The leadership 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, where 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 a statement shared on its Facebook page on Saturday, accused Mangu youths of carrying out the attack on the MACBAN Chairman, Yakubu.
The group added that the Mwaghavul militias were on a mission to steal cows in a Fulani settlement when they attacked and shot the MACBAN Chairman.
But in a counter statement on Monday, the MYM said the reports were fabricated as the victim was actually attacked by a rival Fulani gang following a feud between them.
In the statement jointly signed by the President, Comr. Kyesmang Jonathan-Yusuf and the Director of Public Affairs, Tubwot Joël-Sunday, the MYM said it rejected the allegations and challenged GAFDAN to produce evidence that the attackers were 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 as a result 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 attempt to link the peace-loving Mwaghavul people to MACBAN Chairman’s attack is mischievous and a calculated attempt to cause ethnic tension.
“In as much as the Mwaghavul people remain committed to peace, we wish to re-emphasize that peace must be anchored on truth, justice, and equity."
Attack on Mangu MACBAN chairman: MYM counters GAFDAN's reports