A violent attack in Plateau State has left a 13-year-old herder dead, with 36 cattle killed and 49 others missing after gunmen ambushed herders in the Inzon community of Fan District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident, the state chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, said the assault took place on the evening of Tuesday, October 7, when three herders were returning from grazing.
Babayo recounted that the attackers opened fire on the herders and their animals, killing one of them, while the remaining two narrowly escaped.
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. 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 just passing peacefully 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 laws into their hands.”
The MACBAN secretary in Barkin Ladi, who said all relevant security agencies had been notified, disclosed that the Chief of Staff, Operation Enduring Peace, the Divisional Police Officer in Barkin Ladi, and the Sector Commander had all visited the scene to assess the situation.
He further alleged that the assailants were members of the Berom ethnic group, claiming that five cattle had also been killed two days earlier — on Sunday, October 5 — in the same area.
Reacting to the allegation, the National President of the Berom Youths Moulders Association, BYM, Barrister Solomon Dalyop, dismissed the claims, describing them as unfounded and an attempt to provoke tension.
Dalyop said, “As far as we are concerned, the allegation labeling 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 of 6th October, 2025, resulting to the killing of one Mr. Timothy Ishaku Chollom.
“Secondly, forceful grazing into farmlands, residential areas and other restricted places have continued to threaten not only human life, but also food security and cattle rustling in and around Fan District.
“Thus, allegations of killing cows without substantiating such claims should rather be discarded and regarded,” the president said.
In a response to the growing tensions, the Acting Deputy Director, Public Relations, 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, confirmed that the military had launched an investigation and had already contacted the sector commander in the area for verification.
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