Fulani group alleged poisoning of cows, attack on herders in Plateau communities
Fulani Community Reports Cattle Poisoning in Plateau State
The Fulani community in the Miango District of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State, reported the alleged poisoning of eight cattle and an assault on herders by local Irigwe youths.
According to a statement issued Thursday by the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), the incidents occurred on February 18. The organization characterized the attackers as local ethnic militias who targeted herders engaged in routine grazing.
The statement detailed that after the herders fled for safety, the Irigwe youths scattered poisoned fruits across the grazing fields, resulting in the deaths of the eight cows. This incident marks a significant escalation in ongoing tensions, as GAFDAN noted that the total number of cattle lost since the beginning of January now stands at 32.
“This unprovoked aggression against herders and their livestock has persisted across various communities in the state. Yet, whenever our people respond, they are labeled as aggressors,” the statement read.
GAFDAN urged its members to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to allow security agencies to manage the situation. The organization, however, expressed frustration at the perceived lack of justice in the ongoing strife, questioning how long the community could remain passive in the face of such incidents.
