Killings in Plateau: Fulani herders blame injustice as Berom youths seek international aid

Summary

• MACBAN says attacks by Fulani herders are responses to injustice and weak law enforcement
• Herders accuse security agencies of ignoring assaults and cattle thefts committed by locals
• Over 20,000 hectares of farmland allegedly destroyed by Fulani militia in Riyom, Plateau State
• Berom youth leader calls for international intervention and better support for IDPs

Jos, Nigeria – The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has said the ongoing violence in Plateau State is being driven by what it described as systemic injustice faced by Fulani herders.

Speaking after the association’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, MACBAN’s National Secretary, Bello Gotomo, explained that herders often resort to retaliatory attacks after being subjected to killings, cattle theft, and neglect by security agencies.

He identified climate-induced migration, the proliferation of arms, weak law enforcement, and persistent injustice as key contributors to the crisis.

“When Fulani are attacked and nothing is done, they seek justice in their own way,” Gotomo said, while insisting that Fulani people had long lived peacefully with Plateau natives until they began to suffer targeted attacks.

He condemned the continued killings and urged all parties to embrace dialogue, stressing that peace could only be achieved through justice. He also called on federal and state authorities to address the grievances of Fulani communities if they truly intend to end the violence.

In a separate development, President of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association (BYM), Dalylop Solomon Nwantiri, alleged that Fulani militia destroyed over 20,000 hectares of farmland in the Jol District of Riyom Local Government Area on Wednesday night. He claimed the attackers met no resistance from nearby troops.

Addressing journalists in Jos, Nwantiri appealed for international intervention in the region’s insecurity, noting that Plateau State, like every other part of Nigeria, deserves equitable attention.

He also criticised the neglect of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state, calling on the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and other agencies to provide urgent relief.