Gunmen Open Fire On Herders, Injure 5 In Plateau

Unknown gunmen on Sunday opened fire on herders at Conoil Fueling Station along Bukuru Expressway in Jos South Local Government Area Of Plateau State, injuring five herders.

Plateau State chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Yusuf Babayo, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that a Peugeot J5 open-body vehicle which was conveying eight herders had stopped to purchase fuel at the filling station when the assailants opened fire on them.

Also speaking on the incident, the Deputy Chairman of Kara Market, Dauda Adam Ciroma, described the attack as deadly, saying the herders were attacked around 7:30pm.

Dauda explained that police officers quickly arrived at the scene immediately after the attack, and participated actively in evacuating the victims to the hospital.

“It was the police and I who took them to the hospital. They were badly injured with all of them sustaining fractures and had bullet wounds,“ he said.

Babayo in a statement on Monday, explained that the incident occurred around 6 pm on Sunday, adding that the victims were on their way back from Kara Market – a cattle market in Bukuru – when three gunmen on motorcycle trailed them to the filling station and opened fire on them before fleeing the scene.

“The victims were initially rushed to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) but were later moved to The Potters Specialist Hospital, Jos for treatment due to the ongoing strike in the government hospital.

“This attack is unprovoked because the herders were just buying fuel. The gunmen targeted the herders, and that is why they directly attacked their vehicle and fled.

“This has become a dangerous trend threatening the existence of Fulani herders in the state.

“We will not relent in calming our members and urging them to remain calm because we believe the incessant attacks against us are meant to provoke us,” he said.

Babayo called on security forces to investigate the incident and arrest the perpetrators.

“We are urging the security agencies in the state to wake up to this dangerous trend and arrest it immediately because our lives, wherever we are – in communities, grazing fields, markets, and other places – are no longer safe, “ the chairman added.

The spokespersons of Operation Enduring Peace and State Police Command, Major Samson Zhakom and SP Alabo Alfred, were yet to respond to the inquiry by our correspondent regarding the incident.