Gunmen on Tuesday night launched a deadly attack on herders, leaving one man dead and another critically injured around Gero community in Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, the state chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), confirmed the incident to journalists on Wednesday, describing the attack as “barbaric.”
According to Babayo, “The attack occurred around 8:00 pm in the outskirts of Gero community of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State while the victims were returning to their cattle shed in the area. The victims had earlier gone to Gero community for shopping, unaware that the terrorists were trailing them and eventually opened fire on them, killing one Zakariya Abdullhai and critically injuring one Jibrin Musa. We have recorded countless attacks and killings in 2025.”
He further highlighted a pattern of attacks against herders in the state, saying, “This is one of the many instances where our herders would be gruesomely killed and cattle shot. Two weeks ago, five Fulani herders were attacked at Conoil along Bukuru Expressway and critically injured. In December alone, herders in Plateau experienced countless attacks, cattle rustling, and shooting resulting in the death of herders and their cattle.”
Babayo also alleged that members of a specific ethnic group were responsible for the attack, noting that the matter has been reported to security agencies.
However, the National President of Berom Youth Moulder Association (BYM), Solomon Dalyop, denied the claim, telling journalists, “This allegation is unfounded and fabricated. Four members of our group were attacked on Tuesday at the mining site. The affected victims from the herding community were shot by their fellow herders who came to attack the miners.”
Babayo nonetheless appealed for calm and support for security operations, stating, “We are not unaware of the efforts of security agencies to maintain peace in Plateau State generally, and we will continue to support such efforts despite resistance by criminal elements. We call on security agencies to intensify efforts to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly attacks. Despite these repeated attacks, we are calling on our members to remain calm and allow security forces to carry out their investigation and ensure the arrest of the perpetrators. We urge all members to remain law-abiding and never take laws into their hands.”
The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, had not responded to requests for comment at the time of filing this report.
Okay News reports.
