A 13-year-old herder was tragically shot dead, and dozens of cattle were killed and scattered following an attack by armed assailants in the Fan district of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The victim was identified as Abubakar Wada. The attack occurred on Tuesday evening, October 7.
Miyetti Allah Confirms Massive Cattle Loss
The Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) for the area, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, confirmed the devastating losses suffered by the herders.
Babayo stated that the attack was unprovoked and led to the death of the young boy and a massive loss of livestock:
- 36 cows were confirmed dead (slaughtered).
- 49 cows are still missing.
- The total number of cattle affected exceeds 80.
Babayo urged immediate calm among herders, appealing against any form of retaliatory action, and called on security agencies to handle the matter.
Berom Youths Deny Involvement as Army Deploys Troops
The Berom Youths Moulders Association (BYM), through its president, Barrister Solomon Dalyop, strongly denied any involvement in the deadly assault. Dalyop condemned the report linking the youth group to the incident, describing it as false and aimed at creating fear.
In response to the tragedy, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja of the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division confirmed that security personnel had been deployed to the location to restore peace, and a full investigation is ongoing.
Separate Incident: 78 Cattle Poisoned in Bassa LGA
In a separate development highlighting the escalating conflict in Plateau, a poisoning incident was reported in Bassa Local Government Area on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Ya’u Idris, the MACBAN Chairman in Bassa LGA, stated that cattle grazing near the Tafi Gana junction were deliberately poisoned.
- A total of 78 cattle were affected after consuming garden eggs that had been sprayed with poison across the grazing field.
- 36 cows were confirmed poisoned, with the remaining 42 reportedly “on the brink of death.”
Idris, too, confirmed that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division visited the scene and similarly urged the Fulani group not to take the law into their own hands, promising a thorough investigation to identify and arrest the perpetrators.
The continuous cycle of attacks and loss of life and property underscores the need for effective, permanent security measures in Plateau State to prevent further escalation between communities.
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