7 fulani herdsmen, over 100 cattle killed in fresh attacks in Plateau

The leadership of the Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has confirmed that at least 7 Fulani herdsmen were recently killed during fresh attacks in Plateau State.

The group added that over 100 cows were also killed during two separate attacks which occurred in Maiyanga village of Kwall District in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The Plateau State Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Mallam Nura Abdullahi told Daily Trust on Thursday that the attacks were reported to both the police and personnel of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).

“After the first attack on Tuesday, last week, two herders rearing their cows were suddenly attacked and killed in the area. We reported the case to OPSH and appealed to the leadership of MACBAN to exercise restrain while the investigation was going on to arrest the perpetrators of the act.

“To our surprise, on Tuesday this week, five herders were attacked and killed in the same area. They were going about their normal rearing when assailants attacked and killed them. There is no farm activity at the moment in the area because the area is rocky. There is no justification for this attack as the area has been peaceful in recent time, ” he said.

The incident was also confirmed by the OPSH’s spokesman, Major Shittu Ibrahim, who added that investigation was ongoing in the matter.

Meanwhile, a Kano-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara, has accused Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of banning him from preaching because he worked against him during the 2019 general election.

The election, which was keenly contested, led to a runoff before Ganduje, who ran under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated Abba Kabir Yusuf, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival.

Reports at the moment confirmed that heavily armed officials of the Department of State Security, DSS, has been deployed to the Sheikh’s mosque and house to ensure there was no violation of the directive earlier issued.

The State government had earlier banned Kabara from leading prayers or preaching in the state over his messages which are considered to be inciting. A source who is well in the know about the situation revealed that the DSS men stormed the Sheikh apartment to bar his followers from coming on to protest or create a scene possible of causing violence.