Armed assailants fatally shoot young shepherd, slaughter 13 livestock in latest Plateau assault

A devastating attack by suspected gunmen in the Sabon Gidan Kanar community of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State has resulted in the tragic death of 15-year-old herder Sadi Aliyu, with 13 cattle also killed and 11 others missing. The assault occurred while the victim and fellow herders were tending to their livestock in the area.

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The Plateau State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, confirmed the incident on Saturday, revealing that the assailants had stormed the grazing field and opened fire on the herders without any provocation.

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According to Babayo, the teenage herder was killed instantly, and several cattle were shot dead during the attack, with the victim and his colleagues caught off guard while rearing cattle. The attack has left a total of 13 cattle dead, and approximately 11 cattle are still unaccounted for, as stated by Babayo.

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Babayo vehemently condemned the attack, describing it as a significant threat to peace and security in the state, emphasizing that the continuous targeting of innocent herders and their livestock is unacceptable. The ongoing attacks pose a serious threat to peaceful coexistence and security in Plateau State, he added.

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Babayo disclosed that the incident had been reported to the Bukuru B Division of the Nigeria Police Force and Sector 6 of Operation Enduring Peace for a thorough investigation and necessary action, calling on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the attack. He urged the authorities to arrest those responsible and ensure that justice is served.

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The MACBAN chairman also urged governments at all levels to take proactive measures to protect the lives and property of citizens, regardless of their ethnic background or occupation, while appealing for calm among the affected communities. He advised members of the herding community and other affected persons against taking the law into their own hands.

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Instead, Babayo urged the affected individuals to allow security agencies to carry out their responsibilities, reiterating that the association remains committed to peace, dialogue, and lawful means of addressing grievances. The incident has sparked concerns about the ongoing efforts to strengthen security across the state.

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Recently, Governor Caleb Mutfwang announced a ban on night mining activities, directing that all mining operations must end by 5 p.m. daily, in an effort to curb insecurity. The governor also prohibited night grazing and banned grazing by underage herders as part of the measures aimed at addressing the security challenges.

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Efforts to obtain official confirmation from Operation Enduring Peace were unsuccessful, as the spokesman of the operation, Captain Polycarp Oteh, had yet to respond to enquiries as of the time of filing this report, leaving many questions about the incident unanswered.