A 13-year-old herder, Abubakar Wada, and 36 cattle have been reportedly killed while 49 are missing after gunmen opened fire on grazing animals in Inzon community of Fan district in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State.
The state chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, told newsmen in Jos that the incident occurred on Tuesday evening when three herders were returning from grazing.
Babayo said the gunmen stormed the area and opened fire on the animals, resulting in the death of one herder, while the other two escaped from the scene.
He said, “The incident happened in the evening. We have so far counted losses of over 80 cattle because 36 were killed, while 49 are still missing.”
He said that the attack was carried out by Berom people from Fan district. “Two herders escaped the attack. This is barbaric and unfortunate. The herders and the cattle were passing without provocation.
We call on herders wherever they are in the state to remain calm and allow security forces to investigate those responsible for the attack. Nobody should take the law into their hands,” he said.
In the same vein, the MACBAN secretary in Barkin Ladi LGA, who informed security agencies in about the attack, said “the Chief of Staff, Operation Enduring Peace, the DPO in Barkin, and the sector commander in the area and the scene of the incident.”
But in a swift reaction, the national president of Berom Youths Moulders Association (BYM), Barr Solomon Dalyop, denied the allegations, explaining that they were a peaceful people.
Dalyop said, “As far as we are concerned, the allegation labelled against our peace-loving inhabitants of Nding and Fan District in general has always been a ploy to justify any planned aggression on our people.
“We are aware of two simultaneous attacks carried out by suspected Fulani armed groups at about 7:30pm on the 6th October, 2025, resulting in the killing of one Mr. Timothy Ishaku Chollom.
“Second, forceful grazing into farmlands, residential areas and other restricted places by Fulani herdsmen has continued to threaten not only human life, but also food security and cattle rustling in and around Fan District. Thus, allegations of killing of cows without substantiating such claims should be discarded and disregarded,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the acting deputy director of public Relations for the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, has said they are investigating the matter.
According to him, he had contacted the sector commander in the area for verification.
