For the past two months, villages in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas of Plateau State have suffered devastating attacks by gunmen, resulting in a significant loss of lives and destruction of property. Many were also injured during the incidents.
Weekend Trust gathered that herders grazing cattle in Bassa, Riyom, Jos South and Mangu local government areas were also targeted by gunmen, with reports of alleged killings, cattle rustling and poisoning.
The severity of the situation drew attention from top security officials, prompting visits to the state, including the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Olufemi Oloyede, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to unravel the cause of the latest violence.
Of the recent troubles that bedeviled many communities in the five local government areas of Plateau State, including Mangu, Bokkos, Jos South, Riyom, and Bassa, Fulani communities have voiced their concerns over what they described as huge losses they recorded within the two-month period, spanning March to April.
According to the herders, hundreds of cattle and sheep were either rustled, shot dead, or deliberately poisoned by gunmen or unknown individuals in various communities across the five local government areas located in the north and central parts of the state. They added that these losses had cumulatively cost them over N300 million worth of livestock, exacerbating their economic hardship.
Leader of group speaks
Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, the state chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) told Weekend Trust that all attacks on cattle and killing of livestock had been reported to all security agencies, including the GOC, 3 Division and commander of the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major- General Foluaho Oyinlola, the commissioner of police in the state, Emmanuel Adesina, and the state director of the State Security Service.
He said personnel from security agencies at the local government level were deployed to the scenes after every incident to assess the situation.
110 cattle poisoned
According to the leadership of MACBAN in the state, at least 110 cattle were poisoned in a series of incidents.
Babayo alleged that garden eggs, mangoes and other crops are poisoned and scattered around grazing areas for the cattle to eat. He said the perpetrators often contaminate water sources where the cattle drink water.
Timeline of incidents
Herders in the state said between March and April, they recorded six incidents of cattle poisoning in Bassa and Mangu local government areas. They also reported that between March 3 and 10, nine cattle were poisoned in Kwerenkwe, Rukwechogu and Dan Tanko communities in Bassa Local Government Area.
And on March 31, 2025, 10 cattle were poisoned in Woshina, Panyam district, Mangu Local Government Area. Furthermore, on April 2, 20 cattle were poisoned in the same Woshina area.
The herders also said that on April 14, four cattle were poisoned in Anchetahu, Miango district, Bassa Local Government Area; and two days later, 36 were poisoned around Tafi Gana junction on April 16.
Weekend Trust gathered that following a report of the incident of April 16 at Tafi Gana junction where 36 cattle were allegedly poisoned, the Deputy Inspector- General of Police, Department of Operations, DIG B.D Kwazhi, who was moved to the state to maintain law and order in the wake of the attacks in some communities, visited the scene of the incident in company of the commissioner of police, Plateau State command on April 17, to sympathise with the owners of the poisoned cattle.
The spokesperson of the command, DSP Alabo Alfred, in a statement after the April 17 visit to the scene, noted that 33 cattle were allegedly poisoned to death by yet to be identified individuals in the area, adding that during the visit, the DIG warned cattle owners against revenge.
Still on April 18, 2025, the Plateau State Government, through its Commissioner for Information, Joice Ramnap, set up a committee to investigate the matter. The commissioner said Governor Caleb Mutfwang had directed the Ministry of Livestock Development, Veterinary Services and Fisheries to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegation.
Also on April 22, this newspaper reported that 36 cattle were allegedly poisoned around the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Mangu Local Government Area while grazing in the area, adding that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for the area, the Sector 8 commander of Operation Safe Haven, and the officer-in-charge of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the area visited the scene to also assess the situation.
In that incident, one Alhaji Nyako Muhammad, a herder, lamented that the incident had set his family back, explaining, “the perpetrators placed poison on mangoes and scattered them around. Sadly, our cattle ate the contaminated mangoes. All the security heads in the local government area, including the council chairman, are aware of the incident.
“The poisoning of my cattle has completely affected my family’s livelihood. The cattle were worth N33 million and mostly belonged to orphans under my care. This is what we rely on. More than 20 people rely on the cattle, but now, they have been killed. We asked the youth not take law into their hands. We are pleading with government to intervene’’, he said.
Ismail Idris, the herder who lost 36 cattle to poisoning around the Tafi Gana junction said his animals were worth about N23 million.
“I don’t know what to do. The loss is too much. My livelihood has been destroyed. I have children; and I know nothing else but cattle rearing,” he said.
45 cattle shot dead
The herding community also told Weekend Trust that 45 cattle were shot dead in Tangjol and Tashek communities in Riyom Local Government Area while others were killed in Shen community, Jos South Local Government Area.
Abdullahi Garba, state chairman of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN), narrated that on April 19, 2025, five cattle were shot and the herders were injured in Tangjol, Riyom Local Government Area. He added that on April 27, 2025, 37 more cattle were killed.
The herders also reported that on April 21, 2025, gunmen killed three cattle and a herder, Hamza Suleiman in Shen village, Jos South Local Government Area.
Bashiru Haruna, a herder who lost 37 cattle to gunshots in Riyom community, said he lost over N30 million to that incident.
“All 37 cattle are gone. Each of the 24 larger ones was valued at not less than N1 million. In total, the lost cattle were worth over N30 million, but the gunmen killed them, leaving me with nothing.
“This incident has thrown my family into confusion. Cattle rearing is what I rely on to survive. My children haven’t completed school, let alone seek government jobs to take care of the family. Our home is now empty and our means of livelihood has been taken away,” he said.
206 cattle rustled
The herding community also alleged that their cattle were rustled during the attacks.
The chairman of MACBAN in the state said on March 2, 2025, no fewer than 30 cattle were rustled at Marish in Bokkos Local Government Area.
The herders also alleged that on April 13, 2025, 30 cattle were rustled while a herder is still missing in Murish community of Mangu Local Government Area.
Furthermore, Weekend Trust was told that on the same day, 14 cattle belonging to one Salihu Amadu, were reportedly rustled around Kopgain in the Langai district of Mangu. Additionally, on April 22, 2025, 132 cattle were rustled around Jwokshang community of Mangu Local Government Area by a group of armed men.
Shagari Manu, a victim of cattle rustling in Mangu, said 170 livestock worth more than N100 million belonging to him and his brother were rustled.
He said the incident has crippled his business. “Cattle rustling has hugely affected our livelihood. This is what we rely on for everything. We have nurtured these cattle for years; and suddenly, some people came and took them away overnight.
“We are appealing to the government to help us recover our cattle from the rustlers. They are worth over N100 million,” he said.
Adamu Abubakar, another rearer, who said he lost cattle to rustling, lamented, “we are in a harsh situation. Our family relies on cattle rearing, and now, we have nothing. Life is hard. The herder rearing the cattle is still missing; and our lives are in danger. We appeal to the state and federal governments to intervene. We need help to recover our rustled cattle. That is all we are asking for”.
We’re not responsible for cattle rustling, poisoning – MDA
Rustling, poisoning and shooting of cattle in various villages of the affected local government areas is believed to be a continuation of a tit-for-tat between farming communities and cattle herders. The two communities have been at loggerheads for years, Weekend Trust gathered.
The herding community has accused farmers at various times of being responsible for the crime against them, but the farmers have repeatedly denied such accusations.
Bulus Dabit, the national president of Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), denied the allegation by the herding community.
Dabit, “There are cattle rustlers all over. Criminals are found within every tribe, including the Fulani. Rustlers move with guns, so stereotyping any tribe as cattle rustlers is not development-driven. We have already warned our youths against any criminality. So we don’t expect them to commit any crime against anybody. I advise them to report any crime to the police”.
The MDA president also called on the herders to be vigilant, saying, “They should remain vigilant and keep a close eye on their animals. If it is cattle rustling and they see where the animals are being taken, they should communicate with us so that we can help them search for them.”
Cattle traders, butchers speak
Butchers and cattle traders in Jos, have expressed concern over the violence, which they said has led to scarcity of cattle in the state.
Kabiru Musa, Secretary of the Cattle Traders Association, Bukuru, noted that the conflict has reduced cattle supply, leading to price hike. “The number of cattle brought to the market has dropped significantly from over 1,000 to between 500-600. Prices have also increased. Cattle previously sold for N800,000 now costs between N950,000-N1 million. Labourers within the market who rely on daily proceeds from the cattle business are also affected.”
Rabiu Abdullahi, a butcher, expressed concern over the development, saying, “Hundreds rely on the livestock business, but recent rustling and killings have impacted the cattle supply chain. Prices have surged. Herders, particularly, those within Plateau are not coming like before”.
‘Irigwe not responsible for atrocities’
Ezekiel Bini, National President of the Irigwe Development Association (IDA), whose area has been accused of cattle rustling and shooting of animals belonging to the Fulani community, denied the allegations.
“I don’t know why they are accusing us of killing their cattle because the Fulani all withdrew from Irigwe land when our people were attacked on Sunday night, where 52 people were killed. It has been the practice anytime they attack us. I believe it is another game plan.” he said.
Another respondent, Satmak Bala, a member of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM), whose group has faced allegations of cattle rustling and poisoning in the Mangu area, described the accusations as unfounded and urged the people to disregard them.
He said, “actually, when I heard about an incident of cattle poisoning last week, myself and some people rushed to the scene. Arriving there, we saw some cattle already dead, but no one could tell what happened to them. Even the Fulani didn’t know what happened to them. Our people are not responsible for what happened to the cows. Their allegation is baseless and should be dismissed.”
We recovered some rustled cattle – MACBAN
The leadership of MACBAN in the state, however, said 91 rustled cattle have been recovered by Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) personnel in some villages.
According to Yahaya Bello, the MACBAN chairman in Mangu, 34 of the 50 cattle rustled in Bokkos community were recovered around Mongon in Mangu by OPSH.
Bello also revealed that out of the 173 cattle rustled on April 22, 58 were recovered on Monday this week by Operation Safe Haven personnel around Konbun in Mangu. He appreciated the efforts of the security men in recovering the cattle, noting that the 23 sheep rustled alongside the cattle are still missing.
Recover our rustled cattle, compensate us – Herders
Herders in the state have appealed to security agencies to assist them to recover their rustled cattle. They noted that while some of the cattle were rescued by soldiers of Operation Safe Haven, a significant number were still with the rustlers.
They also appealed to community leaders in areas where their cattle are hidden to cooperate with security agencies and provide information on the whereabouts of their livestock.
Explaining their major challenges, the Mangu MACBAN chairman said, “Our major challenge is the deliberate killing of our cattle. Gunmen open fire on grazing animals without provocation, killing them at will. They also machete them; and in some instances, contaminate water sources believed to be used by our cattle.”
Bello added that shooting, poisoning and rustling of their cattle were severely affecting the economy and livelihood of the Fulani community as herding is their sole business, adding that their lives would be miserable without their livestock.
Security operatives mum
Security agencies, including Operation Safe Haven and the state police command, did not respond to fresh inquiries by this newspaper on the reported cases of cattle rustling, poisoning and shooting. However, security chiefs visited most of scenes of the incidents and pledged to find the culprits while also warning the perpetrators to desist from the act.
