Fulani leaders in Mangu reject DSS, Operation Rainbow, local vigilante, opt for soldiers
Fulani Community Leaders in Plateau State Demand Withdrawal of Security Agencies
MANGU, Plateau State — Leaders from the Fulani community in Mangu Local Government Area have publicly rejected the presence of several security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), local police, Operation Rainbow, and local vigilante groups. In a video that circulated widely on Thursday, these community leaders expressed a strong preference for the deployment of regular military personnel in their area.
The Fulani leaders voiced concerns that operatives from the DSS, police, and other security formations have been targeting their members. They accused these agencies of neglecting to intervene during attacks on herders and the theft of their cattle.
One leader, speaking in the video, stated, “We in Mangu don’t want the DSS, we don’t want the police, we don’t want Operation Rainbow, and we don’t want vigilantes. We only want soldiers.”
The Fulani representatives claimed that more than 80 cows belonging to their members had been illegally detained by security operatives. They are demanding the immediate withdrawal of these law enforcement agencies from Mangu, asserting that only military personnel can provide adequate protection and justice.
Additionally, they alleged that both DSS and police actions have contributed to discrimination against their community, particularly following the arrest of armed Fulani militants in different areas of the local government. This, they argued, constitutes a targeted approach against them.
Another speaker in the video highlighted the alleged better treatment of Fulani herders by soldiers compared to that received from law enforcement agencies, stating, “Soldiers obey us.”
The ongoing dispute highlights the complex relationship between various communities and security forces in Nigeria, particularly in regions affected by conflicts related to herding and land use.
