Gunmen have reportedly killed 25 cattle grazing in two communities in Fan District of Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State.
Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the state, Yusuf Babayo confirmed the incident to Journalists in Jos, Plateau State capital on Tuesday.
According to Babayo, the gunmen stormed the grazing area and opened fire, killing the cattle instantly.
Babayo said the herders grazing the cattle escaped the attack unhurt.
The chairman explained that the first attack occurred in Lairi Village on Sunday, while the second attack took place on Tuesday at Katang, both in the Fan district of Barkin Ladi.
“The attackers stormed the scene when the animals were grazing, started shooting, and forced the herders to flee and abandon the cattle,” Babayo explained.
The MACBAN chairman further stated that he had informed security agencies, including the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, the state Commissioner of Police, adding that the Operation Enduring Peace Sector Commander in Barkin Ladi had visited the scene.
Babayo described the attack as devastating, and accused members of the Berom ethnic group of launching the attack.
Howver, in a swift reaction to the claim, the President of Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Solomon Dalyop denied the allegation.
Dalyop said, “The Berom Youths Moulder-Association is unaware of any killing of cows within Fan axis. This is because, Berom people are peace-loving inhabitants, who have vowed not to venture into such ignoble act.
“Therefore, it behooves on security agents to, as a matter of urgency, rise up to the occasion as armed Fulani invaders usually frame up an allegation against their people whenever they have intent to unleash mayhems or terror attacks on them,” he said.
Spokesperson of the Joint Task Force – Operation Enduring Peace, Major Samson Zhakom did not respond to inquiries from our correspondent about the attacks as at the time of filing this report.
While calling on the security agencies to trail and apprehend the perpetrators, the MACBAN chairman also urged their members to remain calm and allow the security agencies to investigate the incident.
