The major cause of the ongoing religious crisis in Mangu area of Plateau State is rooted in an incident of cattle rustling which occurred on Monday in the community, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters said.
This was stated by Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, at the bi-weekly media briefing with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
He stated that the Mangu crisis was caused by cattle rustling and the killing of a Wagungun man who was riding his motorbike when he suddenly collided with cattle on January 22, 2024, and an argument between the herders' militias and the Wangagu man, which resulted in his death.
According to him, the situation worsened, resulting in a breakdown of law and order in Mangu town and surrounding areas.
Maj. General Buba stated that during the review period, troops of Operation Safe Haven detained suspected violent extremists/insurgents and foiled a Fulani militia attack on people in Mangu and Bokkos LGAs of the state.
He added that troops conducted raids and foiled kidnappings in Kaduna's Sanga, Jema'a, and Kauru LGAs, as well as Plateau's Riyom LGA.
He added that troops apprehended suspected violent extremists/insurgents as well as a gang boss of the Fulani militia in Mangu and Wase LGAs.
He stated: "On January 18, 2024, on reliable INTREP, troops conducted sting operations and apprehended five suspected violent extremists/terrorists in Mangu LGA. During the operation, troops discovered five AK-47 rifles loaded with 123 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammo and two motorcycles.
"On January 17, 2024, troops responded to reports of a large number of armed Fulani militias preparing to attack a community in Bokkos LGA. Troops made encounters with dangerous extremists or Fulani militias. Following a firefight, troops killed ten rebels and retrieved ten AK-47 weapons, 210 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, five mobile phones, and 29 rounds of PKT ammunition."
General Buba stated that the situation, which began in Gangaran Kwata, spread to other parts of Mangu LGA despite coordinated attempts by troops stationed in the region to restore order.
He also noted that the military high command had dispatched special troops to some of the hotspots to execute targeted operations.
"We have also deployed several battlefield enablers to enhance intelligence and strike capability on these terrorists, thus, we are encouraging the warring factions to shield their swords," General Buba added.
He disclosed that in neighbouring states to the FCT such as Niger State, troops are conducting operations in; Gauraka, Apo Forest, Gyedna/Sabon Wusa and Garam in Tafa LGA of Niger State, adding that troops covered Numan and Basa in Akwanga and Nasarawa LGAs of Nasarawa State respectively.
Buba said: "For the week under review, the Nigerian Army apprehended 94 and arrested 171. Troops also apprehended 43 oil thieves and freed 29 abducted captives. Troops in the SS denied stealing oil worth an estimated Four Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty Naira.
"Troops also recovered 168 different weapons and 2,757 different rounds of ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: one GPMG, 85 AK47 rifles, one Vektor R4 rifle, one G3 rifle, 10 pump action guns, 12 locally fabricated firearms, 6 locally built pistols, 21 Dane guns, one double barrel gun, one fabricated revolver rifle, two x 36 hand grenades, and one fabricated Dane gun.
"Others are 290 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2,132 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 115 rounds of 5.66mm ammo, 29 rounds of PKT ammo, 10 rounds of 9mm ammo, 297 cartridges, 21 magazines, 14 vehicles, 35 motorcycles, 27 mobile phones, 2 baofeng radios and the sum of N2,594,000.00 amongst other items."
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