Terrorists kill 3 vigilantes in Plateau State attack despite curfew, Nigeria

Terrorists killed three people in a nighttime ambush in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria, on Tuesday, despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the state government.

The attack occurred at around 9:39 p.m. along the Kyikyau–Gyambwas boundary in Mangu Halle District. The victims, members of a local Mwaghavul vigilante group standing guard over their community, were identified as Samson Dachet, 45; Gambo Fwangyil, 50; and Zughumnan Bamaiyi, 35.

The Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) condemned the assault in a statement. It noted that the attack took place during the restricted hours of the newly imposed 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew, which the Plateau State Government introduced to protect lives and help security agencies stabilize affected communities.

“The Mwaghavul Youth Movement is deeply disturbed that this deadly attack occurred during the period of the newly imposed 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew,” the group said. It questioned the measure’s effectiveness, asking: “If law-abiding citizens are confined to their homes from 6:00 p.m., while armed Fulani criminals continue to move, attack, and kill with impunity during the same period, who is the curfew ultimately protecting?”

The MYM stressed that criminals do not obey curfews and only law-abiding residents do. It called on the state government and security agencies to reassess the curfew in Mangu, particularly its impact on communities vulnerable to after-dark attacks. The group urged stronger protection during restricted hours, including effective patrols, rapid-response capacity, intelligence-driven operations, and better engagement with recognized community vigilance structures, without demanding that security measures be abandoned.