…hails OPSH, and other security agencies for prompt intervention, halting escalation

…calls on kinsmen to remain calm, law-abiding, avoid reprisal

… thanks to security agencies for launching an immediate manhunt for perpetrators

An apex Fulani professional group in Africa has condemned Saturday’s gruesome killing of one of its leaders, Ardo Adamu Idris Gabdo in Panyam village of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing the dastardly act as
barbaric, senseless, and unwarranted.

The group thanked the military outfit in the state, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) for prompt response to the area, thereby preventing escalation and possible reprisals, it however, appealed to kinsmen across the country to remain calm as security agencies had begun a manhunt for the perpetrators.

The deceased, who was the Ardo of Panyam Community in Mangu, was reported killed in the area by yet-to-be-identified criminals while returning from a peace meeting with some local community leaders in the area.

The report said he had traveled from Bauchi where he had relocated following the recent crisis in Mangu to seek peace so his people could return to harvest their crops not destroyed during the crisis.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Sunday, the Fulani group operating under the aegis of Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa (COFPIA), expressed sadness that the killings came when the special military outfit, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), and other stakeholders had restored peace to Plateau State.

It thanked OPSH for the prompt deployment of troops to the area to prevent the breakdown of law and order and the contemplation of possible reprisal following the development.

In the statement signed by its national president, Mallam Mohammed Gidado Tilde, the Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa, described the killing as barbaric, senseless, and unwarranted.

It, however, appeared to the Fulani community in Plateau and worldwide to remain calm and not resort to reprisal, expressing unflinching confidence in the security agencies which had since launched a manhunt for the perpetrators that justice would be served.

The statement read in parts:” The Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa (COFPIA) is saddened by the gruesome killing of one of the respected custodians of our culture, Ardo Adamu Idris Gabdo, the Ardo of Panyam Community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, yesterday, Saturday, September 23, 2023, without any provocation.

“As a regional regulating umbrella body of Fulani groups in Africa, we condemn in the strongest possible terms this barbaric, senseless, and unwarranted killing aimed at provoking ethnic tension not just in Plateau but also in Nigeria and African subregion in general.

“The Ardo, who had returned to the community after several peace-building efforts by security agencies, especially Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and other stakeholders in the area led to relative peace, was brutally murdered after attending further peace meetings with some local community leaders in the area, by some suspected criminals.

“The action of these mindless and criminal elements is a setback back to the peace already achieved by all in the locality.

“As difficult as it is to take lightly, we are consoled by the deliberate steps initiated by security agencies, especially OPSH to track down the perpetrators whose intention was to cause ethnic tension in the state.

“So far, we are satisfied with the deliberate and pragmatic steps the security agencies have taken to track down the criminals wherever they are.

“Given the zeal of the security agencies coupled with reports from our Mangu chapter, we are satisfied that the criminals will be brought to book in no distance time.

“It is on this premise that we passionately appeal to our brothers, Fulani in Mangu, Plateau in particular, and Nigeria at large, who are pained by this dastardly act, to remain calm, have total faith in the security agencies and allow them to do their work.

“Nobody should take the law into his hands as the killing of our Ardo is a clear action of some few criminal elements in the locality and not that of the community as a whole.

“We must view this action as purely criminal that should have no place in our society. We kindly appeal to our kinsmen to forgive and work closely with the security agencies to unravel the true identity of the criminals involved. It is therefore, our position that we rise above this pain by not taking laws into our hands.”

count | 27

Plateau: Apex Fulani Professional Group Condemns Killing of Leader in Mangu