A fresh wave of violence in Plateau State has left one herder dead and over 100 cattle killed in attacks carried out across Jos South and Jos North local government areas. The assaults, which occurred in the Gero and Darwat communities, have intensified concerns over the region’s long-running farmer-herder conflict.
According to Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Plateau, the attacks were allegedly launched by members of the Berom ethnic group. He claimed the attackers opened fire on herders without provocation, killing the cattle, butchering some, and carting away the meat.
Babayo said that on May 13, youths in the Gero area of Jos South mobilised and attacked cattle rearers, killing about 70 cows. He added that troops from Operation Safe Haven arrested three individuals in possession of meat from the slaughtered animals. On the following day, he said, over 40 cows were killed in Darwat, a community in Riyom.
He noted that the violence is part of a worrying trend, with several other incidents in recent weeks, including a missing herder and 41 cattle rustled in Bisichi. “We are being killed daily, seemingly to provoke us,” Babayo said. “We urge the government and the international community to take note of what is happening to us in Plateau State.”
Victims of the attacks described the events as unprovoked. Shagari Ibrahim said, “We didn’t know what was happening. Suddenly, a group of people arrived while we were grazing and started firing gunshots at us.” Another herder, Musa Ibrahim, recounted seeing armed youths approaching before the shooting began. Audu Jibrin also reported a similar attack the previous day, saying, “They came in vehicles, killing cattle and stealing meat.”
However, the Berom Youth Moulders Association has denied the allegations. Its president described the claims as falsehoods aimed at tarnishing the community’s image, insisting that there had been no recent incidents involving Berom youths attacking herders. He instead accused Fulani herders of killing four people in Dajundun, Riyom, and called on the state government to outlaw open grazing.
MACBAN has urged its members to remain calm and not resort to violence. “This is not the first time we have endured such atrocities, and we have always exercised patience,” the association said.
The Plateau State government said it is working to verify the claims. Commissioner for Information and Communication Joyce Ramnap said the state would not tolerate any actions that disrupt peace and pledged efforts toward long-term solutions. Attempts to reach Operation Safe Haven, the joint security task force in charge of the area, were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.
