At least 37 cattle were reportedly shot dead on Sunday afternoon, at the Tashek community of Riyom local government area of Plateau State.
According to the state charter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, the incident occurred around 1:00 pm when a herder was grazing the cattle around the area.
The latest attack on grazing cattle occurred barely a week after a similar incident in the Tanjol community, also in Riyom LGA, where gunmen opened fire on herders, leaving two herders injured and five cattle killed.
The chairman described the attack as unprovoked, adding that it was a deliberate move by the perpetrators to achieve a hidden goal.
Babayo said, “Gunmen stormed the area and started shooting at grazing cattle, leading to the death of 37 cattle and injuring the herder. Immediately after the attack, I called on the sector commander of Operation Safe Haven in Riyom to inform him about the incident, who subsequently deployed troops to the scene to assess the situation.”
The chairman also said he had informed heads of security agencies in the state, including commander OPSH and GOC 3 division, commissioner of police and State Director Security (SDS), about the incident, adding that “they all acknowledged the report and asked to not take law into our hands as efforts are being done to arrest the perpetrators.”
Babayo claimed that attacks on herders and their cattle have been a daily routine.
“We called on members to remain calm. Nobody should take the law into their own hands. On the latest incident, we are still patient and trusting security to do the needful to bring an end to the crime. Considering the series of attacks, in recent times, we believe it is a calculated attempt to undermine our economy and leave us vulnerable,” Babayo said.
The youth leader in Riyom LGA, Song Bitrus, said he was not aware of the incident.
A spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, a security task force maintaining peace in the state, Major Samson Zhakom, did not respond to inquiries on the incident as of press time.
