Religious Buildings Set Ablaze in Plateau State as Mangu Enforces Curfew

Violent clashes have erupted in Nigeria's central Plateau state, resulting in the burning of mosques and churches. The conflict began when eight individuals died after cattle escaped onto a road, causing a traffic jam in the Mangu area. In response, the state governor has implemented a 24-hour curfew to quell the violence, although exemptions for burial ceremonies have been granted. This region is known for its historical tension between different communities, often escalating into religious and ethnic violence. As Plateau is where the predominantly Muslim north intersects with the predominantly Christian south, many communities are ethnically diverse. The recent clashes in Mangu involved the Fulani and Mwagaful ethnic groups, resulting in the destruction of six mosques and two churches. The tensions erupted after armed thieves attempted to steal Fulani cattle, triggering chaos on the roads when the cows escaped during the fracas. Both Christian and Muslim youth targeted places of worship, leading to further deaths and destruction. Despite the ongoing curfew, unverified reports suggest that the clashes continued the following day. This incident is separate from the political unrest in Jos, where tear gas was used against politicians attempting to gain entry to the local state assembly. The politicians were enraged after being removed from power due to a court ruling that deemed their election last March unlawful.