The Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to attack its National Chairman, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, during a reunion event in Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) on Sunday. The warning follows reports of a deadly overnight assault in a nearby community that claimed three lives, heightening tensions in the region.
In a statement signed by the party’s Acting Publicity Secretary, Shittu Bamaiyi, the APC claimed to have uncovered intelligence indicating that sponsors of the planned attack were convening on Saturday in a private residence in Jos to finalize arrangements. According to the party, the scheme involves mobilizing three buses from each of Mangu LGA’s 20 electoral wards to transport thugs to the Gindiri Missionary Compound, the venue of the Gindiri Old Students Association (GOSA) Reunion Service.
“Unconfirmed reports suggest that additional agitators will be positioned at the Gindiri roundabout, where they plan to chant ‘Ba ma so, Ba ma so’—Hausa for ‘We don’t want’—as soon as Dr. Yilwatda enters the town,” the statement read. It further alleged that media outlets from within and outside Plateau State would be co-opted to portray the incident as widespread public disdain for the national chairman and his entourage.
The APC described the plot as a deliberate attempt to undermine the party’s leadership and appealed to security agencies to launch an immediate investigation to prevent any breach of law and order. “As a law-abiding political party, we urge security operatives to act swiftly,” Bamaiyi emphasized, while calling on APC supporters across the state to remain calm and committed to peaceful coexistence.
The allegations come against a backdrop of escalating insecurity in Mangu LGA. The Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), a socio-cultural group representing the indigenous Mwaghavul people, condemned a separate attack on Wednesday night in Pushit community that left three residents dead. Suspected bandits carried out the assault, according to MDA, despite ongoing community-led peace initiatives.
In a statement by its Director of Public Affairs, Friday Derwam, the MDA expressed profound grief over the incident, describing it as a “relentless commitment to a destructive agenda” by the assailants. “It’s heartbreaking that, despite our non-kinetic strategies to stabilize peace in Mwaghavul land, these attacks persist,” Derwam said. The group extended condolences to the victims’ families, the Pushit community, and the broader Mwaghavul nation, vowing solidarity in the pursuit of justice.
The MDA reiterated its unwavering commitment to peace, urging community members to stay vigilant yet restrained in the face of provocations. “We call on our people to overcome evil with good and protect our communities through legitimate means,” the statement added. It also pressed security forces in Mangu LGA and across Plateau State to intensify efforts against such “unwarranted assaults on innocent and defenseless lives.”
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