In a coordinated effort between the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) North Central Zonal Office and Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (PLASEMA), supported by the Local Government Emergency Committee and the Nigerian Red Cross, a joint on-the-spot assessment was conducted on January 29, 2024, in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. This mission aimed to evaluate the aftermath of renewed communal attacks that occurred between Monday, January 22, and Wednesday, January 23, 2024.
Led by the Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Eugene Nyelong, the assessment team included representatives from PLASEMA, the International Organization of Migration (IOM), and Faith-Based Organizations (FBO), working in collaboration with the Red Cross. The team, accompanied by security personnel from the Nigerian Army, was guided through the affected areas by Henry Mangai, the Admin Officer of the Local Government Area.
The comprehensive assessment revealed extensive damage, with numerous houses, vehicles, businesses, and places of worship, including the Bungha-Dawo Jumma’a Mosque and COCIN LCC2 Church Lahil in Mangu town, being destroyed and burnt to the ground.
The impact on the community has led to the establishment of 12 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, primarily situated at Pilot Primary School Mangu. Many injured victims are currently receiving medical attention in various hospitals within Mangu town, while those with life-threatening injuries have been transferred to State and teaching hospitals, including facilities in the State capital and as far-reaching as Bauchi.
As of the visit date, the recorded figures stand at 86 individuals in hospitals within Plateau State (excluding those in Bauchi), with a confirmed death toll of approximately 96. The total number of affected houses is reported to be 476.
This assessment serves as a crucial foundation for informing and facilitating Federal Government support to the affected victims, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of NEMA, PLASEMA, and their partners in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Mangu Local Government Area.
