Concerned Plateau Youths (COY) have called on security agencies to arrest a man identified as Umar Auwal Bakwankwashe after he allegedly celebrated the killings of seven people in Kwi community, Riyom Local Government Area.
The appeal follows an attack on Saturday night when heavily armed gunmen — described by residents as more than 50 men carrying sophisticated weapons — stormed the village at about 10:30pm. Witnesses said the assailants overpowered the local vigilante before opening fire, leaving seven people dead, several others injured and homes and property destroyed.
“Immediately the youths escaped, the gunmen began shooting sporadically, throwing the people into utter confusion. Many fled into nearby bushes and rocks for safety,” a resident said, adding that frantic calls to security operatives went unanswered.
While the community continued to mourn, Bakwankwashe is said to have posted on Facebook a screenshot of a headline about the attack alongside the comment: “I no tell una? Gradually we go finish you.” The post quickly went viral and attracted thousands of reactions and comments both supporting and condemning the message.
In a petition addressed to the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and government authorities, COY demanded Bakwankwashe’s immediate arrest and prosecution. The group said the post — which they say implies that “Muslims will finish and keep killing Christians in Plateau State” — suggests the poster may have knowledge of or sympathy for the attacks.
“We are calling on the federal government of Nigeria and the Plateau State government to arrest this young man for his comments,” the petition reads in part. “This further shows that there are some of our Muslim brothers who are supporters of these terrorist attacks on innocent Nigerians. He should be brought in for questioning because he appears to know a lot about the attacks on innocent villagers in Nigeria,” COY added.
Efforts to reach security agencies and Bakwankwashe for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
