No fewer than seven Fulani herders have been killed in two separate attacks in Maiyanga village of Kwall District in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Nura Abdullahi, confirmed the incident in Jos on Thursday.

Abdullahi said the recent attack, which occurred on Tuesday, claimed five lives and one other missing while more than a hundred cows were killed and some macheted by the assailants.

He said all the attacks occurred in the same Maiyanga village and both the police and personnel of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) were informed of the incidents.

“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 restraint while the investigation was 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 times,” he said.

According to the chairman, the bodies of the victims had been recovered with the support of both the OPSH and police and have been handed over to the Fulani for burial.

The OPSH’s spokesman, Shittu Ibrahim, confirmed the incident, saying that investigation was ongoing.

Daily Trust