News
MURIC Condemns Plateau Attacks, Says Burning Of Churches, Mosques Barbaric
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the attacks in Plateau State, particularly the recent killings in Kwahaslalek village, Mangu Local Government of the state.
MURIC also condemned the attacks on worship centres in Plateau, labelling the burning of churches and mosques as “barbaric and satanic.”
This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, who also urged residents of the village and the state at large, to coexist peacefully.
The statement partly read, “MURIC denounces this wanton destruction of lives and properties, particularly houses of worship which should be respected. It is barbaric and satanic. We must learn to coexist peacefully.”
MURIC stated that two churches and six mosques had been burnt, while eight persons were lost.
It stated, “The death toll in the raging crisis in Mangu, Plateau State, has reached eight. Six mosques and two churches have been burnt. The burnt mosques include a central mosque, the Anguwan Dawo Jumat Mosque.
“An Islamic school, Audi Islamiyyah, was also burnt. The two burnt churches, Deden and Assemblies of God’s Church are located in Sabon-Kasuwa in the Dercom and Alogom areas of Mangu. Both belong to COCIN.”
The fresh attack in Mangu LG by gunmen reportedly claimed more than 30 lives in the early hours of Wednesday.
It was gathered that the victims, who were mostly women and children, had scampered for safety in the house of a community leader in the area last Tuesday night following earlier unrest during the day in Mangu town.
This prompted the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to declare a 24-hour curfew on the Mangu LGA on Tuesday.
He said the decision followed the deteriorating security situation in the area after unrest led to the burning of several houses, including churches and mosques.
However, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria in Mangu LG, Timothy Daluk, had accused the Nigerian military of supervising the killings of Christians and destruction of property in the state.
In a viral video, Daluk said, “I am here to report the situation happening in Mangu Local Government for the whole world to understand. What is happening in Mangu at this particular point in time, the military are the ones sending our people away for the militia to burn their houses.
“At this particular point in time, they have sent every Christian away from the new market, thereby leaving the Muslims to come and burn their houses.”
Reacting to the accusation, the Defence Headquarters, yesterday, said it would request to meet Daluk over his recent comment against the military.
However, MURIC noted that despite having both Muslims and Christians living together in the state, it’s the “Northern Muslims who are always targeted for killing.”
It said, “We note with serious concern the consistent consistency of attacks on Northern Muslims who live in Plateau State. We find it noteworthy that although Southern Christians of the South East and South West also reside in large numbers in Plateau State, it is the Northern Muslims who are always targeted for killing. The others have never been attacked.
“The fact that all the eight people who died in the riot are Muslims points to where the aggression first started as well as the targets of the attacks. Reports gathered from the Plateau State branch of MURIC and that of the Jamaat Nasril Islam (JNI) state that the crisis started on Tuesday, 23rd January 2024.”
The group further accused the security operatives under ‘Operation Rainbow’ of being partisan in protecting the lives of Muslims.
MURIC stated that the Muslims weren’t protected, thereby making it possible for the “Christian youths to burn as many as eight mosques while only two churches were affected.”
The Islamic group urged the security operatives to be fair in discharging their duties, as partisanship could make the “crisis escalate beyond imagination.”
MURIC stated, “The reports also affirm that the security outfits in ‘Operation Rainbow’ are partisan as there are complaints that Muslims and their mosques did not receive adequate protection, a situation which made it possible for the Christian youths to burn as many as eight mosques while only two churches were affected.
“We charge the security agents to be fair to all. Partisanship in the security agencies can cause irreparable damage. It can also allow the crisis to escalate beyond imagination.”
MURIC urged residents of Mangu LG and the state in general, to stop the incessant attacks on each other, and cooperate with security agents to curb the killings bedevilling the state.
“We appeal to the people of Mangu in particular and Plateau State in general to stop all forms of hostility. They should cooperate with law enforcement agencies. The name of Plateau State has become synonymous with killing and destruction.
“This has started to scare prospective investors, tourists, and visitors away from the state. This is bound to affect the state’s economy,” the statement read.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”
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