The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Timothy Daluk in Mangu Local Government, Plateau, has asserted that the Nigerian Military operatives should vacate the area, saying that Christians are now determined to fight terrorists disrupting their peace.
Mr Daluk made these damning accusations in a video that was made public on X platform on Wednesday.
He reported that the military is allegedly displacing Christians, enforcing curfews solely within Christian areas, and allowing the burning of their homes by militias.
“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,” he said with agitation.
According to the CAN chairman, the military’s actions have resulted in the forced evacuation of Christians from the new market, leaving Muslims free to burn homes. He claimed that the military has killed three young men, rejecting the assertion that one incident involved a fake soldier.
“At this particular point in time, they have sent every Christian away from the new market and thereby leaving the Muslims to go and burn their houses. They have set the curfew. The curfew is only restricted to only people within the Christian domain.
“Within the Muslim domain, they are free to move and do whatever they want to do. And not only that, the military has killed three of our young men, which I know one, he was before my own church member, He said.
The chairman expressed frustration, stating that when he reported the incidents to the security forces, they initially dismissed it as false until he proved otherwise. He accused the military of complicity, alleging that they have been paid to carry out these actions.
“The military has killed three of our young men, which I know one is from my church. They killed one yesterday. And I reported to the security. He said that it was a fake soldier.
“At first he said I was lying. Until I proved to him that it was not a lie, then finally he said it was a fake soldier. I said no, it was not a fake soldier. I said no, it was a soldier who killed him. Finally, they made a signal to the soldier and he disappeared from the scene,” He said.
He passionately called for the removal of the military from Mangu Local Government, asserting that the community does not want or need their presence. He claimed that the ongoing situation is a deliberate plan to destroy the local government, emphasizing that they will resist with whatever means necessary.
“We the people from Mungu local government, we don’t want the military in Mangu local government. They should pack their loads and go. We don’t want them because it’s a plan, they have been bought.
“I am calling on the world to understand that this thing should stop, and people should come to our rescue to save us if not, that is an evil plan for them to destroy Mangu Local Government. Because the governor is from here, and we are not going to allow it,” he added.
The CAN chairman warned that if the situation does not improve, he plans to organize a meeting for pastors to discuss and strategize against the challenges faced by the Christian community.
“The military should keep on killing us. We accept they should kill us, but we are not going to stop. I will organise the whole Christians in Mangu Local Government Area. We are going to fight. We are not going to stop, and that is what I said,” he said.
“Enough is enough. We have cried, but the government is not listening. If they switch off their phones, then where else do we take our cries to?” he quizzed.
He expressed determination to resist the perceived oppression and fight for the rights and safety of the Christian community in Mangu Local Government.