Plateau: Pyam traditional rulers not responsible for the death of Fulani, says PYM as it calls on security agents to investigate allegations

By: Lovins Yakubu, August 04, 2022

The Pyam Youth Movement (PYM) has expressed utmost concerned and worry the insinuation making the rounds by the Fulani people that it was the Pyam Traditional Rulers that invited the Bauchi based (YAN BABELI) vigilante to arrest and killed the 6 Fulani people.

A statement signed by Arch Henry Nadoma, Hon. Yusuf Z. Fyale, Hon. Isa Musa, National President, National Secretary and National Public Relations Officer of the PYM respectively and a copy made available to African Drum described the allegation as totally false, untrue, baseless, mischievous, a precursor and guise to perpetrate evil against the Pyam people.

The statement reads in parts; "Our attention have been drawn to statements credited to Plateau State Chairman of the Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Mallam Nura Abdullahi, carried on daily trust newspaper of 2nd August,2022, and as we qoute

"That six hearders have been allegedly killed and seven others declared missing in Mongi and Langai communities of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State after an alledged invasion by a Bauchi -based group called "Yan Babeli".

"However, we wish to categorically, state that this statement is not only false and misleading but a deliberate act to misrepresent facts for mischief and deceit.

"While it is true that some Fulani heardsmen were arrested and summarily executed in an unclear circumstances by a Bauchi based (YAN BABELI) vigilante, the killings did not occured in any part of Pyam Chiefdom or Mangu LGA of Plateau State, as reported by the media outfit.

"The killings occured in Bauchi State territory of the border as well as their burial supervised by the Fulani leader and top security agencies including the STF personnel from Mangu and Tafawa Balewa LGA's of Plateau and Bauchi States respectively".

PYM wondered what really formed the basis of the allegations even when the Fulani have established that those who made the arrest and killings of their people were not even from Plateau State. It further wondered what link or connection Pyam nation had with the Bauchi based vigilante group for them to make such wild allegations of linking their leaders to the arrests and killings of their (Fulani) people.
"Truth be told, Pyam Chiefdom Traditional Rulers as well as subjects prior to the arrests and killings did not even know of the existence of the Bauchi based (YAN BABELI) vigilante not to talk of hiring them for any operation against anyone in Pyam Chiefdom.

"It is also a fact that the Bauchi based vigilante did not inform or report to any Pyam Chiefdom Traditional Ruler or even the security agencies in Mangu LGA, about their coming to Pyam Chiefdom, for the operation, arrests and killings of the Fulani people.

"It is also a fact that the Fulani leaders did not inform the Pyam Chiefdom Traditional Council of their coming to the Chiefdom for any mission before and after the operation as well as the subsequent killings of the suspected Fulani bandits resident in Mungi and Langai areas of Pyam Chiefdom, and their burial last week Friday 29th July, 2022, at Sabon Layi village along the Gindiri - Lere road on the Bauchi/Plateau boundary", the statement added.

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau State

The statement further stated that the Pyam people are peaceful and law abiding and have always maintained a high degree of restraint in the interest of peaceful coexistence within the Chiefdom, despite the provocation as a result of the criminal activities of some Fulani bandits against innocent people of Pyam Chiefdom, over the years.

"Our people are going through hell at the moment and have suffered too much from the atrocities of the Fulani bandits that have killed so many innocent people including traditional rulers and have kidnapped so many people including our paramount ruler HRH Charles Mato Dakat held in captivity for several days last year, but we remain peaceful and have never taken the laws into our hands by resorting to violence and lawlessness in expressing our grievances.

"As lovers of peace and promoters of peaceful coexistence amongst the various ethnic nationalities resident in Pyam Chiefdom, our accommodating nature shouldn't be taken for granted, as we have endured the atrocities of terrorist elements for long and calling on the security agencies to immediately, come to our aid to end the unabated banditry against our people.

"With the subtle threat for reprisal by the Fulani if those responsible for the killings of their people are not arrested within the time frame they set, we are strongly calling on the security agencies to as a matter of urgency investigate the allegations by the Fulani leader and unravel the circumstances of the killings of the 6 Fulani people and also the disappearance of 7 others and act on the threat".
The group said this was necessary considering the fact that the ultimatum by the Fulani draws near in order to avert any possible reprisal attack on the Pyam people in Mungi and Langai areas and anywhere else, in Pyam Chiefdom and Mangu LGA of Plateau State.

"Enough of the senseless killings and kidnappings of innocent people of Pyam Chiefdom and Mangu LGA as a whole as we expect the security agencies to leave up to expectation as our people are leaving under palpable fear, apprehension, anxiety and tension even when they have never provoke or attack anyone", the statement noted.