The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has said that gunmen opened fire on herders on Sunday evening, killing 13 cows and injuring 12 others along Gero Road in Jos South LGA of Plateau State.
The state Chairman of the association, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, who disclosed this to journalists, said the attack occurred while the herders were grazing.
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Babayo, who condemned the attack, said the association had reported the incident to personnel of Operation Enduring Peace, Sector 6, who later visited the scene.
One of the herders who escaped the attack, Jabir Abdullahi, said, “We were grazing when the gunmen arrived on motorcycles. As soon as they stopped, the person sitting at the back of the motorcycle started shooting, forcing us to flee. They shot dead 13 cattle on the spot, while many others sustained injuries.
“This attack is unprovoked because we did not offend anyone. We were only grazing peacefully. We later reported the incident to security agencies, who also visited the scene.”
The MACBAN chairman further called on members of the association to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands, stressing that the attackers were bent on provoking them.
We don’t know perpetrators – Community
The Treasurer of the Ngel Development Association, Iliya Solomon, in whose area the incident reportedly occurred, said the community did not know the perpetrators and urged security agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Solomon said, “Yesterday, a herder reported to me that their cattle were shot in the area because I work closely with security agencies whenever issues arise. I immediately contacted soldiers around and we moved to Gero Road, where the incident occurred.
“The scene is also commonly referred to as Gero. When we arrived, I saw four cattle already dead while four others were injured and unable to move. We do not know the perpetrators.”
He added that the location where the incident occurred was a notorious spot where criminal activities were frequently carried out.
When contacted on the development, the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, acknowledged receipt of a WhatsApp message on the incident but said he could not provide further details at the time.
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