Naked Protest Hits Plateau As Women Condemn Removal Of Traditional Ruler By Governor Mutfwang

In a dramatic and highly symbolic display of grievance, hundreds of women from the Mwaghavul-dominated communities in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State staged a naked protest on Friday morning, April 17, 2026. The women took to the streets to express their total rejection of the recent removal of their traditional ruler, the Mishkagham Mwaghavul, Da John Hirse, by the administration of Governor Caleb Mutfwang. The protesters, comprising both elderly and middle-aged women, moved through the major roads of Mangu town, asserting that the Governor's action was an affront to their cultural heritage and a desecration of their ancestral traditions.

The unrest follows a controversial executive order issued by the Plateau State Government which reportedly nullified the selection process that brought the traditional ruler to the throne, citing administrative irregularities and non-compliance with established legal frameworks. However, the protesting women argued that the stool of the Mishkagham Mwaghavul is a sacred institution that should be insulated from partisan politics. By choosing to protest without clothing—a traditional "ultimate sanction" used in many African cultures to signal extreme distress or a spiritual curse—the women aimed to draw national attention to what they described as the "political victimisation" of their people.

The Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) has yet to issue an official statement on the protest, but community leaders have called on the state government to reconsider its decision to avoid a prolonged social crisis.

As of the time of this report, the Plateau State Government has not rescinded the order, maintaining that the restructuring of traditional stools is necessary for transparency and the rule of law within the state. The situation remains tense in Mangu as the women have vowed to continue their spiritual and physical demonstrations until their traditional ruler is reinstated.

What is your take on the use of naked protests to challenge government decisions, and do you think governors should have the power to remove traditional rulers? Drop your comments below and let us know your thoughts!

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