MYM Rejects “Dangerous” Claims Linking Plateau Communities to Cattle Rustling

• Demands Evidence, Warns Against Collective Criminalization of Communities

Our Correspondent

The Mwaghavul Youth Movement has rejected online allegations linking several communities in Plateau State to cattle rustling, describing the claims as “deeply irresponsible, misleading and potentially dangerous” and demanding verifiable evidence from those making the accusations.

In a statement issued Saturday and signed by Director of Public Affairs Tubwot Joël Sunday, the group said a publication attributed to the “Gafdan media team” alleged that communities across Mangu, Barkin-Ladi, Bassa, Jos South, and Riyom LGAs were being used as “shield areas” to conceal rustled cattle.

The Movement said the publication named specific communities including Panyam, Kerang, Ampang, Mangun, Kombun and Bwai without presenting “recovered livestock, arrest records, identified suspects or findings from any competent security investigation.”

“We therefore reject the attempt to present such allegations as facts,” the statement said.

While condemning cattle rustling, the group insisted that criminal acts should not be used to brand entire communities as criminal.

“The Mwaghavul Youth Movement unequivocally condemns cattle rustling and every other form of criminality, regardless of who commits it,” it stated.

“If any individual is involved in the theft, concealment or movement of stolen livestock, such a person should be identified, arrested, investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

“However, the existence of criminality cannot be used as a justification for branding entire communities as criminal enclaves. They are not criminal organizations, and their residents must not be collectively criminalized because of unsubstantiated claims circulated on social media.”

The Movement challenged the authors and anyone relying on the publication to provide evidence to back the allegations.

“Where are the recovered cattle? Who are the identified suspects? Where are the arrest records? What security investigation established these claims? Which competent security agency officially designated these communities as ‘shield areas’?” the statement asked.

“Serious security allegations require serious evidence. Social-media publications, ethnic insinuations and unverified intelligence cannot substitute for professional investigation and due process.”

The group warned that describing entire communities as hideouts for criminals in a state already battling insecurity could expose innocent citizens to attacks and justify indiscriminate security operations.

MYM called on security agencies to “distinguish clearly between criminal suspects and innocent communities,” and said individuals implicated should face the law. At the same time, residents should not be targeted based on ethnicity or residence.

The Movement also accused “propaganda machines of known terrorists” of pushing narratives that portray particular communities as sources of criminality while ignoring the broader security crisis in Plateau.

It noted that Mwaghavul communities and others have suffered killings, displacement, destruction of homes and farmlands, kidnapping and loss of livelihoods.

“It is therefore unacceptable for communities that have suffered from insecurity to be casually portrayed as criminal sanctuaries without credible evidence,” the statement said.

The group urged the Nigerian military and other security institutions to remain professional and impartial.

“If a civilian is unlawfully killed, the circumstances must be investigated. If a Mwaghavul, Berom, Irigwe, Afizere or any other citizen is attacked, it must receive the same condemnation and urgency as enjoyed by herders and their cattle.

The value of human life cannot be determined by ethnicity, occupation or uniform,” it stated.

The Movement also urged youths in Mwaghavul land not to be provoked by what it called “publications by enemies,” adding that it “will not defend criminals, and neither will it accept the collective criminalization of law-abiding communities.”

As of press time, there was no official response from the “#Gafdan media team” or Plateau State security agencies to the allegations or the Movement’s rebuttal.

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