“Our people not responsible for Barkin Ladi attacks’ – Plateau MACBAN
The Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has absolved Fulani herders from Tuesday night’s violent attacks in Heipang and Fan districts of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state, where 13 people were killed.
The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Secretary General, Comrade Bature Iliya Adazaram, alleged that armed Fulani militias from Fass and Werre-Jong areas launched simultaneous attacks on Rachas village in Heipang District and Rawuru village in Fan District, resulting in the killing of the 13 victims.
However, while reacting in a statement issued in Jos on Thursday, the State Chairman of MACBAN, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, said the allegations by the BYM linking Fulani herders to the attacks were false and baseless, as security agencies are still carrying out investigations and have not released any statement indicting the herders. He stressed that linking herders with the deadly attacks was unfounded and lacked evidence to back it up.
Babayo said the accusations against herdsmen by the BYM were the routine and baseless tactics often deployed by the group, directed at Fulani communities without proper investigation or substantiated proof.
“We are not surprised by the allegations by BYM, considering that such accusations against Fulani have become a normal routine. Our members are often accused of attacks without any evidence,” Babayo said in the statement.
According to the MACBAN Chairman, several Fulani communities in Plateau have suffered as a result of such unfounded allegations in the past and have been victims of persistent attacks, killings, and cattle rustling.
“The world has seen the difficulties Fulani communities are going through in Plateau State. We are being killed daily, our cattle are being rustled, and our members can no longer go out to graze due to incessant attacks,” Babayo stated.
He added that since June 2025, Fulani herders in the state had lost over 500 cattle to killings and rustling, citing specific incidents including the rustling of 160 cattle belonging to Haruna Ibrahim and Alhaji Sani Muhammad between June 1 and 14 in Fan District, and the killing of a herder on September 2, alongside seven cattle.
“In October alone, three herders were attacked along Mararaban Kantoma on the 2nd. On October 5, Yusuf Abubakar and his five cattle were killed. On October 7, Abubakar Wada and his 39 cattle were killed, while over 50 cattle were rustled around the Izon community of Fan District,” he noted.
“All these incidents have been reported to security agencies, including the police, Operation Safe Haven, and the Department of State Services (DSS),” Babayo said.
Babayo emphasized that MACBAN condemns all forms of violence and urged security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the Barkin Ladi attacks are identified and brought to justice, as well as to protect herders, who he said live in constant fear due to recurring attacks.
In conclusion, Babayo challenged the BYM to present proof to support its claims while also urging the Fulani community in the state to remain calm, law-abiding, and never take the law into their own hands, allowing the security forces to carry out their investigations and bring the culprits to justice.