Troops confirmed Suspected Mwaghavul militiamen kill 12 cattle, injure 12, rustle others in Mangu
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have confirmed that suspected armed Mwaghavul militiamen have attacked the Lawet community in Pushit District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing 12 cattle and injuring another 12, while several others were reportedly rustled.
The attack occurred at about 8:10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, when troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) responded to a distress report from the community.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that upon arrival at the location, the troops discovered that the armed attackers, suspected to be Mwaghavul youths, had raided the community and targeted cattle belonging to local herders.
The attackers reportedly killed 12 cattle and injured another 12, while several other cattle were taken away during the incident.
Following the attack, troops launched a tracking operation and successfully traced the rustled cattle to the general area of Pankshin, where they were recovered and secured for further action.
The recovery of the cattle prevented their complete loss and could provide useful leads in the ongoing investigation into the attack.
Troops have continued search and offensive operations around the general area of Lawet and adjoining communities in an effort to locate the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in parts of Mangu, where attacks on civilians and livestock have continued to generate fears of retaliatory violence.
Security agencies are expected to intensify patrols and intelligence-led operations around vulnerable communities along the Mangu–Pankshin axis, while efforts are made to establish the identities of those responsible and prevent the incident from triggering another cycle of reprisal attacks.
