In a tragic incident that has heightened tensions in Plateau State, a 15-year-old herder named Sadi Aliyu was killed by armed assailants. The attackers, allegedly Berom militias, struck in the Sabon Gidan Kanar community of Jos South Local Government Area. The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) confirmed the attack on Saturday, stating that the teenage herder was shot dead while grazing livestock on Friday evening.
The MACBAN chairman in Plateau, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, reported that 13 cattle were also killed and another 11 are unaccounted for. He emphasized that the attack was unprovoked, with the herders going about their routine when the gunmen descended upon them, opening fire indiscriminately.
Condemning the assault, Babayo described it as a severe threat to the already fragile peace in the region. He expressed concern over what he sees as a pattern of targeting innocent herders and their animals, which undermines community harmony and security. The incident has been reported to the police at Bukuru B Division and Sector 6 of Operation Enduring Peace for investigation.
Babayo called on security agencies to thoroughly probe the matter, apprehend the perpetrators, and ensure justice is served. He urged calm among herders and other affected individuals, advising them against resorting to extrajudicial actions. The MACBAN leader stressed the association’s commitment to dialogue and lawful conflict resolution, appealing to all levels of government to take proactive steps to protect citizens irrespective of ethnicity or occupation.
Attempts to get official comments from the Plateau State Police Command and Operation Enduring Peace proved unsuccessful, as spokespersons SP Alfred Alabo and Captain Polycarp Oteh had not responded to inquiries at the time of this report.