Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - A Plateau State activist, Walshak Samuel John has accused soldiers attached to the Operation Enduring Peace, OPEP, of killing a Mangu youth leader, Fwangshak Dawuk, and dumping his body at the Barkin Ladi general hospital.
According to John, Dawuk, who was the Secretary of the
Mwaghavul Youth Movement, Mangu Halle District in Mangu Local Government Area,
was
allegedly shot to death on Sunday night by
military personnel in Jakatai village while he and other youths were on a
vigilante duty.
In a post he shared on Facebook on Monday, John said
eyewitnesses stated that Dawuk was shot at point-blank range by the soldiers
who were protecting the Fulani terrorists.
In the post, John wrote:
“If accounts from eyewitnesses on the killing of Fwanshak
Dawuk by soldiers are accurate, then this is not simply another casualty to be
added to the long list of deaths associated with insecurity in Plateau
State.
“It is a serious allegation involving personnel of the
Nigerian military and a civilian youth leader who was reportedly participating
in community vigilance.
“Witnesses said Fwangshak went out with other youths to
watch over his community following an attack on neighbouring Lawuru in Barkin
Ladi LGA. Instead of returning home to his family, he reportedly ended up dead.
“Even more troubling are the reports surrounding what
allegedly happened after the shooting, including the reported removal of his
body from the scene and its transportation to Barkin Ladi General Hospital and
dumping it there.
“These are serious allegations. They demand serious answers.
Who ordered the shooting?
What exactly happened between the soldiers and the youths?
“Who were the personnel involved? Which military convoy was
operating in Jakatai at the time?
What were their operational orders?
“Why was the deceased reportedly taken to a hospital after
the shooting?
And why did the soldiers allegedly leave the hospital
without properly accounting for what had happened?
“When communities are repeatedly attacked, and people
organise themselves to watch over their homes, families and neighbours, the
proper response from security agencies should be coordination, protection and
communication — not indiscriminate treatment of citizens as enemies.”
Conflict journalist, Masara Kim Usman also confirmed the
incident in a post on his Facebook page.
“Earlier today, terrorists reportedly invaded Arangai
(Jakatai) village in Mangu LGA, Plateau State. Soldiers allegedly failed to
respond to distress calls.
“When civilian guards could no longer stand by and watch
their families being slaughtered, they came out with homemade pipe guns to hold
off the attackers — who were armed with assault and sniper rifles — to allow
vulnerable residents to escape.
“And this was when soldiers who had been unresponsive
suddenly appeared and opened fire on the village defenders, killing this young
man instantly,” he wrote.
However, the Media Information Officer of Operation Enduring
Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh denied knowledge of such an incident.
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