Four Herders, Nine Cows Killed, Homes Burned in Fresh Plateau Attacks

Unknown assailants launched coordinated attacks on rural communities, leaving four herders dead, nine cattle slaughtered, and several homes razed. The attacks, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas, have deepened fears of renewed communal unrest in the region.

According to local sources and security reports, the victims — all members of Fulani pastoralist communities — were ambushed while tending to their livestock near forested areas between Butura and Bwai districts. Eyewitnesses recount that the attackers emerged from nearby bushes, opening fire on the herders and their animals without provocation. In the aftermath, nine cows were found dead, and others are reportedly missing.

The attackers also set fire to residential structures in the vicinity, rendering several families homeless. “We woke up to sounds of gunfire. When we rushed out, our houses were already burning,” said Abubakar Musa, a resident of one of the affected villages. “We don’t know who is behind this, but we’ve lost everything.”

Security agencies have since been deployed to the area to prevent escalation. The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway. “Our men have been mobilized to secure the communities and track down those responsible. We urge residents to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement.”

This latest violence comes amid fragile peace efforts following months of relative calm in Plateau, a state that has long been plagued by ethno-religious and farmer-herder conflicts. The cycle of retaliatory attacks has often left communities devastated, with human and material losses mounting on all sides.

Human rights organizations and local leaders have condemned the attacks and called for renewed government commitment to lasting peace and justice. “The security situation remains dire,” said Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam, a Jos-based peace advocate. “We urge both federal and state authorities to act decisively. Dialogue and proactive security measures are the only way forward.”

As of Wednesday morning, displaced families were seen taking shelter in neighboring villages and temporary camps. Relief agencies and community groups are appealing for urgent humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter, and medical aid for the victims.

The incident adds to the growing toll of insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms in community policing, land use, and conflict resolution. Stakeholders warn that without tangible action, the region risks sliding back into another cycle of prolonged violence