Fresh attacks on herders and communities in Plateau State have heightened tensions, with 14 cattle killed and 29 others reportedly rustled in Gero, Jos South Local Council.

Youths in Mangu have also rejected the latest military deployment to the council, accusing soldiers of failing to prevent recurring attacks.

The latest incident occurred on Saturday evening when gunmen reportedly stormed the Gero area while herders were tending their cattle.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) described the attack as unprovoked and said it was part of a disturbing pattern of violence against herders and their livestock in parts of Plateau State.

The state chairman of MACBAN, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, confirmed the incident to journalists on Sunday evening, saying herders had lost lives and cattle worth millions of naira in attacks in recent months.

Babayo said the latest attack was particularly disturbing because it occurred only weeks after other deadly incidents in the same area.

“On June 30, 2026, three innocent Fulani herders lost their lives in Gero, while on June 16, 2026, four others were reportedly killed in Nyongo, with their bodies yet to be recovered,” he said.

He said the recurring attacks threatened peaceful coexistence and the security of pastoral communities in Plateau.

According to him, the destruction of livestock was not only an economic loss but also an attack on families whose livelihoods depend on cattle rearing.

“The continuous killing of cattle and attacks on innocent herders must not be allowed to become the new normal. Every Nigerian deserves equal protection under the law, irrespective of ethnicity, occupation, or place of residence,” Babayo said.

MACBAN urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding and to resist any temptation to take the law into their own hands, while calling on security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.

The spokesperson for the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, said he would confirm the incident and respond to journalists, but had not done so as of the time of filing this report.

The spokesperson for Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), Captain Polycarp Oteh, also did not respond to inquiries.

Meanwhile, tension has continued to mount in Mangu Local Council following the killing of about 26 people and the destruction of homes and farmlands in Bin-Per community of Kumbun District last Tuesday.

The violence has prompted the military to relocate OPEP to Mangu, where a new operational base, code-named “Operation Hard Knock”, was established to tackle criminal elements and prevent further attacks.

At the inauguration of the operation, the Commander of OPEP, Maj. Gen. Maxwell Dangana, said the decision was prompted by the military’s response to the recent attacks and was aimed at flushing out criminal elements in Mangu and neighbouring communities.

However, the Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) has rejected the deployment, saying it has no confidence in the military’s ability to prevent further attacks.

In a statement issued at the weekend, the Director of Public Affairs of MYM, Tubwot Joel Sunday, said relocating OPEP to Mangu would not produce the desired result unless the military changed its approach to security operations in the area.

Sunday alleged that soldiers deployed to Mangu often remained in the town instead of moving into border communities from where attackers allegedly launch incursions.

He also accused the military of reacting to attacks only after they had occurred rather than proactively identifying and pursuing suspected attackers.

“We have no confidence in the new deployment because it will not change the attitude of the soldiers who only patrol the towns, waiting for attacks to occur before reacting,” he said.

He further alleged that two youths, identified as Obadiah Alfred and Bak’ar Musa, were killed by soldiers while protesting the Bin-Per attack.

Sunday said the youth group was considering legal action over the deaths.

Efforts to obtain the military’s response were unsuccessful, as the phone of the Acting Deputy Director of the 3 Division of OPEP, Rukuba Barracks, Jos, Lt. Col. Victor Olukoya, was busy.

Despite the criticism from the youth group, the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) has commended the military for what it described as swift operational responses following the recent attacks.

The Central Working Committee of the MDA, after an extraordinary meeting to review the security situation in Mwaghavul communities, condemned the attacks on Bin Mper and Murish, where 28 people were reportedly killed and homes, farmlands and other property worth millions of naira destroyed.

The Director of Public Affairs of the MDA, Friday Derwam, said the association mourned the victims and sympathised with the affected families.

He, however, commended the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and the Commander of OPEP for their response to the attacks and improved coordination among security agencies.

The association also praised Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang for visiting the affected Bin Mper community, deploying security personnel, promising relief interventions and committing to the construction of access roads to improve security response.

Derwam said the association also recognised the resilience and vigilance of Mwaghavul youths in protecting their communities within lawful limits.

He called on the Federal, Plateau State and local governments to make the protection of lives and property a priority.