One Herder Killed, 21 Cattle Injured in Plateau Community Attack

Gunmen have allegedly launched an attack on herders in the Diyan community, situated within the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. The assault led to the tragic death of one herder and left 21 cattle with gunshot wounds.

According to Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, the State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the deceased has been identified as Rabiu Aliyu Ya’u. Babayo informed journalists in Jos on Monday, April 27, 2026, that the incident took place around noon on Sunday, April 26, while the animals were engaged in grazing.

Babayo characterized the attack as unprovoked, emphasizing that the herders were peacefully attending to their livestock. He reported that one herder managed to escape the assailant's onslaught. “It is an unfortunate and unprovoked attack. The herders were going about their normal business peacefully when the perpetrators attacked them,” he stated.

The MACBAN chairman further explained that 21 cattle were shot during the attack, with eight dying instantly. The remaining cattle sustained critical injuries and are unlikely to survive. Babayo condemned the act as a severe violation of human rights and a significant threat to the region's peaceful coexistence. "We have the right like any other citizen of Nigeria to go about our lawful activities," he asserted.

He expressed deep concern over the recurring loss of lives and destruction of property, describing it as a troubling pattern against innocent pastoralists. "The continued loss of lives and destruction of property is deeply concerning and must not be allowed to persist,” he added.

Babayo urged the Plateau State government and relevant security agencies to uphold their constitutional obligation to protect lives and property. He called for a thorough investigation into the attack, the apprehension of those responsible, and the swift administration of justice.

In an appeal to his association's members, the MACBAN chairman encouraged them to remain calm and law-abiding, advising against any actions that could escalate the situation. "MACBAN remains committed to dialogue and peaceful coexistence as the only path to lasting peace,” he concluded.

MACBAN has previously pointed fingers at Berom youths for involvement in such attacks. However, Barrister Solomon Dalyop, the National President of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, has consistently refuted these claims, asserting that members of his association are not implicated in these violent incidents.