…demands immediate investigation

 

The leadership of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) has expressed its deep sadness and strongest condemnation over the reported killing of Mr. Fwangshak Dawuk, the Secretary of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement, Mangu Halle District, by personnel attached to a military convoy in Jakatai, Mangu Local Government Area, on the evening of Sunday, 9th August 2026.

According to accounts gathered from the community, the incident occurred after an attack on Lawuru in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area by Fulani militias, a neighbouring community to Jakatai. Following the attack, and given the proximity and shared border between the communities, Mwaghavul youths in Jakatai mobilised to keep watch over their community and remain vigilant against any possible spillover of the attack.

According to a statement yesterday by the MYM Director of Public Affairs, Tubwot Joël Sunday, “It was during this period of vigilance that a military convoy reportedly arrived in the area. According to eyewitness accounts, the soldiers opened fire, resulting in the death of Fwangshak Dawuk, a youth leader who was reportedly carrying out community vigilance duties at the time.

“The deceased was reportedly picked up by the soldiers and taken to Barkin-Ladi General Hospital, where the military personnel allegedly presented him to medical personnel as an emergency case without immediately disclosing that the individual was already dead. By the time medical personnel discovered the true condition of the victim, the soldiers had reportedly left the hospital premises.

“When these reports are established to be true, the circumstances surrounding the killing, the removal of the victim’s body from the scene, and the subsequent conduct of the soldiers constitute matters that demand urgent and independent investigation. The public deserves to know why a youth leader who was keeping vigilance over his community was shot, who gave the order to open fire, what exactly transpired between the soldiers and the youths, and why the body was taken to a hospital under the circumstances reported by witnesses.”

The statement added that the incident is particularly disturbing because it occurred in the aftermath of an attack on a neighbouring community, pointing out that at a time when citizens were understandably maintaining vigilance to protect their homes and communities, the presence of security personnel should have provided reassurance and protection rather than fear, confusion and loss of innocent lives.

The MYM therefore demands an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Fwangshak Dawuk. The identities of the personnel involved, the commander of the convoy, the operational orders under which they were acting, and the circumstances leading to the shooting must be established and made public.

“We are equally concerned by reports suggesting that military operations in the area may have resulted in circumstances that inadvertently or otherwise provided cover or operational advantage to criminal elements responsible for attacks on neighbouring communities. This allegation must be thoroughly investigated. Security forces cannot be perceived to be protecting citizens on one side while their actions, whether through omission or misconduct, leave communities exposed to armed attackers on the other.

“Let it be clear that the Mwaghavul Youths have a right to protect their communities, and community vigilance should never be treated as a crime. Citizens who remain awake at night to protect their families and neighbours from armed criminals deserve cooperation from legitimate security agencies, not indiscriminate violence,” the statement added.

The MYM therefore calls the Government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Army leadership, the Government of the state of Plateau and relevant human-rights and investigative authorities to urgently intervene, establish the facts of this incident and ensure that the personnel responsible are held accountable.

It appealed to the military authorities to immediately preserve all operational records relating to the deployment, including the identity of the convoy, personnel involved, command structure, communication logs and other relevant evidence that could assist the investigation.

“The death of Fwangshak Dawuk must not be dismissed as another casualty in the cycle of insecurity because a man who went out to help keep his community safe must not become another unanswered statistic.

“The Mwaghavul Youth Movement mourns with the family, friends and entire community of Jakatai and demands justice for the deceased.”

“Enough is enough. Our communities deserve protection, not persecution by unprofessional personnel,” the statement stressed.