Muslim leaders and Hausa-Fulani community representatives in Plateau state have expressed grave concern over the recent demand by the Plateau state government demanding military withdrawal from peace-keeping operations in the state.
The leaders in a statement issued by Elder Sani Mudi, a former special adviser to former Governor Lawal Ishaq, expressed fears over the demand.
“Muslims and Hausa-Fulani leaders expressed fears that the call for the removal of soldiers from peacekeeping operations is mischievous and a grand plan to give room to some people to execute their evil plans of ridding Plateau of the presence of Hausa and Fulani, regarded as unwanted settlers in the state,” they said.
The leaders cited examples of the abuse of mobile police uniform during the 2008 post election crisis in Jos where, “hundreds of innocent Muslims were killed in Jos by some killer squad in police uniforms.”
In a related development, the Plateau State Muslim Indigenes have described as selective condemnation and perceived marginalisation in the state’s handling of recent security crises, by Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
In a statement issued by the secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Gwamlar, decried the state government’s silence over deadly attacks in Wase and Kanam local government areas, where more than 70 vigilante members were killed and over a dozen villages razed.
The Muslim indigenes accused Governor Caleb Mutfwang of showing selective empathy by failing to visit affected Muslim communities or extend condolences to grieving families.