Hussaini Kafi in Kano
At least two people were killed and two others injured in a fresh wave of violence in Plateau State, highlighting the fragile security situation in the state’s rural communities.
The attack, which occurred Wednesday morning in Bassa Local Government Area, reportedly involved Fulani militias who ambushed three Irigwe youths. According to the National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Youth Movement, Joseph Yonkpa, two of the victims, identified as Adamu Bala, 38, and Gado Trra, 45, died on the spot, while one other person sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
“A military personnel also sustained bullet injuries during the ambush,” Yonkpa added, revealing that the assailants destroyed over 20 farms during the attack.
Efforts to reach the Plateau State Police Command spokesman, Alabo Alfred, for comments were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered.
Meanwhile, a separate but related incident has raised tensions in Mangu Local Government Area where over 300 cattle were reportedly rustled on Tuesday evening around the Jouckchal community in Panyam district.
The Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Mangu, Musa Muhammad, told journalists in Jos that the rustling occurred around 4:30 pm when armed attackers stormed the area, shooting sporadically as herders fled for safety.
Muhammad disclosed that the stolen cattle belonged to three individuals — Jeji Boro (130 cattle), Shagari Manu (70), and Tambaya Jouckchal (103). He said only five of the cattle had been recovered so far following a search operation launched by Sector 8 of Operation Safe Haven.
He accused Mwaghavul youths of being behind the cattle theft, urging security agencies to act swiftly to recover the livestock and investigate the matter thoroughly. “We are committed to peaceful coexistence and expect security agencies to treat this matter with urgency,” he said.
However, the National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, has vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as unfounded and harmful.
“Cattle rustling is a criminal activity and should not be attributed to any particular tribe,” Dabit stated. He expressed concern that MACBAN’s allegations, especially those circulating on social media, were inflaming tensions and unjustly stereotyping the Mwaghavul people as thieves.
“I have always said cattle rustling is not a tribal activity. It is the work of criminals, and even if one cow is missing, it should be investigated by the security agencies, not discussed recklessly on social media,” Dabit added.
He questioned the credibility of the claim, asking where anyone in the community could possibly hide 300 cattle. “We live in a small area — where can anyone keep 300 cows without being noticed?” he asked.
In a further twist, MACBAN also revealed that the death toll from an alleged cattle poisoning incident around the INEC office in Mangu on Tuesday morning had risen to 36, with ten additional cattle reported dead overnight.
The group also recalled a separate incident on April 9 in the Murish community of Mangu LGA where 60 cattle were rustled and the herder remains missing.
As both communities continue to trade accusations amid rising insecurity, observers are calling on security agencies to take decisive action to prevent further violence and restore trust among the region’s diverse ethnic and pastoral groups.
Spokespersons for both Operation Safe Haven and the Plateau State Police are yet to issue official statements on the incidents.
