37 Cattle Shot Dead in Plateau Community

At least 37 cattle were shot dead on Sunday in Tashek community of Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State. The state chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) confirmed the incident, with its chairman, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, stating that the attack occurred around 1 p.m.

The attack comes barely a week after a similar incident in Tanjol community, also in Riyom LGA, where gunmen opened fire on herders, injuring two and killing five cattle. Babayo described the latest attack as unprovoked and deliberate, accusing the perpetrators of working towards an undisclosed agenda. He said gunmen stormed the grazing area, shooting at the cattle and injuring a herder. Following the attack, Babayo contacted the sector commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Riyom, who immediately deployed troops to the scene.

The MACBAN chairman said he had also reported the incident to heads of security agencies in the state, including the commander of OPSH, the GOC of 3 Division, the Commissioner of Police, and the State Director of Security. According to him, the officials acknowledged the report and urged the community not to take the law into their own hands while efforts are underway to apprehend the attackers.

Babayo expressed concern over what he described as frequent attacks targeting herders and their cattle, warning that such incidents threaten the economic stability of their community. He appealed to members to remain calm and continue trusting the security agencies to address the situation, despite what he termed as a “calculated attempt to undermine” their livelihood.

When contacted, the youth leader of Riyom LGA, Song Bitrus, said he was unaware of the incident. Meanwhile, attempts to get a response from Major Samson Zhakom, spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to messages at the time of filing this report.