Islamic rights advocacy group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has described the recent demand by Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang for the withdrawal of soldiers from troubled hotspots in the state as deceitful and fishy.

The Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, who raised the alarm in a statement on Wednesday, said there was a sinister move behind the demand, wondering why the governor and top government officials should make such a demand at this time.

Gov. Mutfwang had, during a visit to the Jebbu Bindi community of Riyom Local Government Area, where suspected Fulani militias had attacked and killed 27 people, called on Nigeria’s military authorities to withdraw soldiers from crisis areas and replace them with mobile policemen.

But Akintola who rejected the call by the governor, stated that MURIC smells a rat in the demand as he believes there is more to it than meets the eye.

He wondered why a state that has been enveloped in viral attacks and killings should demand the removal of soldiers from crisis areas, declaring that it does not add up.

“Plateau has a sinister motive. The trajectory of skirmishes in Plateau State, in particular, and the North Central in general makes an interesting study.

“It is characterized by official cover-up of massacres, cannibalism, arson, and looting. Plateau has mastered the art of deception, manipulation, and intrigues,” the MURIC DG said.

He went on to accuse women in the state, claiming they connive with the assailants in local communities by providing them hiding places and food whenever they go for the attacks.

“Women in Plateau communities are hand in glove with killer youths, and they hide murderous hearts.

“They readily go out naked in protest against the presence of soldiers even when they are fully aware that their people have killed innocent Nigerians,” Akintola stated.

The MURIC leader added that he is convinced that the demand for the withdrawal of soldiers from hotspots by Mutfwang is a diabolical ploy to endanger the lives of Muslims in the state.

“What informed their preference for mobile policemen to replace soldiers is their successful long-term plan for predominance in the recruitment of mobile police in the country?” He queried.

Akintola reasoned that it is on record that the mobile police force in the country is populated by indigenes of Plateau, Benue, and other parts of North Central, hence the demand by Gov. Mutfwang, who he said wants to leverage on that to bring in local officers who will go after innocent Muslims and Fulani people and eliminate them.