NOTE OF PRESS RELEASE BY THE CHAKFEM YOUTH MOVEMENT (C.Y.M) ON THE FULANI MILITIAS ATTACK ON CHAKFEM CHIEFDOM ON THE NIGHT OF MONDAY 18TH AUGUST, 2025.
Issued this 22nd day of August, 2025, in Jos, Plateau State
The Chakfem Youth Movement (C.Y.M), on behalf of the entire people of Chakfem Chiefdom in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, held an emergency meeting following series of unprovoked, premeditated and heinous attacks on our communities by armed Fulani militias on the night of Monday, 18th August, 2025.
After careful deliberation, we hereby state as follows:
The people of Chakfem Chiefdom have, in recent times, come under repeated waves of unprovoked and premeditated assaults by armed Fulani militias.
Gentlemen of the press, in July 2025, two separate brutal attacks were launched on Kabung and Manja villages of Muko District in Chakfem Chiefdom, where nine (9) lives were lost, homes destroyed, cattle rustled and entire communities thrown into mourning.
On Sunday, 10th August, 2025, the militias again struck, killing one aged woman, rustling over two hundred (200) cows belonging to three different owners, and burning down five houses.
Fellow Nigerians, most recently, on the night of Monday, 18th August, 2025, over one thousand armed Fulani militias descended simultaneously on Manden, Tim, Mhidihin, Jibin, Jiblang, Koppang, and Jilem communities in the Chakfem District of the Chakfem Ciefdom. Houses were set ablaze, properties destroyed, animals rustled, and more than three thousand (3,000) persons displaced. In this latest coordinated carnage, twelve (12) precious lives were brutally cut short, while three (3) persons sustained grievous injuries and are currently receiving treatment.
The victims of these massacre, now recorded in history as martyrs of Chakfem Chiefdom, are:
- Rifkatu Katde – age 80
- Danlami Kyenba – , age 50
- Maichibi Sonyen – , age 81
- Ishaku Yohana – , age 26
- Joel Longpwen – , age 62
- Talatu Joel – , age 53
- Mutchet Thomas – , age 91
- Jesicca Shinta – , age 50
- Favour Godwin – , age 35
- Retnan Sati – , age 28
- Tapmwan Benard – , age 29
- Miss Yilshwal Godwin – , age 4 months
- Yakubu Dangsohot 68
- Kopchit Bleptu 82
- Dumkyes Dawum 67
- Beatrice Danjuma 38
- Kindness Danjuma 17
- Rita Plangshap 27
- Eunice Rocky Haruna 26
- Ardik Dikorom 27
We strongly condemn in totality and in the strongest of terms the renewed and incessant attacks on our people (2x), which have led to the killing of innocent lives, destruction of homes, displacement of families, and loss of livestock.
Gentlemen of the press and fellow Nigerians, These attacks are not spontaneous, but well-planned, premeditated, and strategically executed with the sole agenda of dispossessing our people of their ancestral lands, rendering us homeless, hopeless, and altering the demographic structure of our homeland.
While these activities of the disgruntled elements leave indelible scars in our hearts, we acknowledge the swift response from Government in deploying security agencies to the affected areas, which helped in halting the attack. We also note the provision of relief materials to alleviate our pains. This proves to us that we are not abandoned. Thank you, His Excellency Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, for standing with us.
We Wish to Further Appeal:
That the Federal and State Governments, through their security agencies, station security personnel permanently in the communities of the two districts of the chiefdom. This is critical, as our terrain does not permit quick intervention during emergencies.
That there’s the need to hasten the road network in Chakfem to ease movements and any help that might come our way from the security agencies in times like this.
That the Government Liase with network providers to boost their network coverage in the area,this will make communication easy and will help in accessing help in terms of invasions and emergencies.
That the Government Establish a permanent Mobile station and sentry to help in security watch at our borders. In the same vein, that Agro rangers be stationed in all our borders with Quaan-Pan, Bokkos and Nasarawa state as our terrain makes us vulnerable to constant attacks by the bandits.
That the perpetrators of these dastardly acts be apprehended and brought to justice, because peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice.
That genuine and concrete efforts be made to guarantee lasting peace and justice in Mangu Local Government and Plateau State at large.
That deliberate and urgent steps be taken by government and non -governmental organizations to support the rebuilding of the villages burned notably at Kabung, Manja in the past and most recently Jilem, Koppang, Manden, Jibilang, Jibin and Moedihin and return our people back to their ancestral land while securing our borders to restore confidence in our people and guarantee their safety. Because as at the time of this Briefing, our student population do not have a home to return to at the end of their academic sessions.
In conclusion, we reaffirm our determination to partner with government and security operatives to defend our land, heritage, and dignity. We call on the Plateau Youth Council leadership, civil societies, religious bodies, and peace advocates to raise their voices with ours in ensuring that justice prevails and that our people are not exterminated.
Long live, Chakfem Chiefdom!
Long live, Plateau State!!
Long live, the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Paul Yakbang
Youth Grassroot mobiliser.
For the Chairman