‘Security operatives connive with local militias to kill our people’ – Fulani youth leader alleges
Fulani Youth Leader Accuses Security Forces of Collusion with Militias in Plateau State
BASSA, Plateau State — Umar Yusuf, a youth leader representing the Fulani community in Bassa Local Government Area, has accused local security operatives of colluding with militia groups to target herders. At a town hall meeting held by the Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria (KPFAN) on Saturday, he outlined allegations of organized attacks on herders, cattle theft, and extortion.
Yusuf stated that security personnel in the region have participated in raids alongside local youths from the Irigwe ethnic group. He asserted that these operations result in unprovoked assaults on innocent herders and the killing of livestock.
“This situation in Bassa and other areas of Plateau State is deeply troubling,” Yusuf said. He claimed that law enforcement officials have been complicit in attacks on the Fulani community, exacerbating tensions in the region.
The youth leader further alleged that during these raids, livestock are seized and taken to military camps. He noted that herders are often required to pay substantial sums to reclaim their cattle, further complicating their economic struggles. “Our cattle are stolen without justification and held for extended periods,” he added. “This has led to severe economic hardship for us, and we deserve protection like everyone else.”
Yusuf cited a recent incident on July 30, where armed Irigwe youths, accompanied by security forces, reportedly attacked Fulani herders in Ancha village. He claimed that six cows were killed and others injured, and that a herdsman named Muhammadu Rebo was fatally shot while grazing his animals peacefully.
The allegations have raised concerns about the safety and rights of the Fulani community amid ongoing conflicts in the region. The local authorities have yet to respond to the claims made by Yusuf.
