The Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has strongly condemned what it describes as the ethnic profiling of Fulani herdsmen in the state as aggressors whenever there are violent attacks in local communities.
MACBAN Chairman in the state, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, who made the lamentation during a press conference in Jos on Thursday, said the accusations and biased reporting by the media in the state have made the natives view the Fulani herdsmen as enemies and have continuously organized attacks against them where many herdsmen and their cows have been killed but no media has talked about them.
Babayo went on to document attacks allegedly suffered by Fulani herdsmen and their livestock between September and December 2025, noting that during the last quarter of last year, herdsmen suffered more than 20 attacks in different communities where their people and cows were killed, while thousands of cows were stolen.
“It is really sad that in the last quarter of 2025, between September and December, Fulani herdsmen have suffered more than 20 attacks in Plateau State, but unfortunately, most of these attacks have been attributed to our people, making us look like the aggressors, due to biased reporting by the local media,” Babayo said.
“But it may interest you to know that in most of these attacks, which have mainly taken place in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Riyom, Bassa and Jos East LGAs, Fulani herdsmen have been the recipients as many of our people and their livestock have been the victims.
“We have documented these attacks for the world to see and judge accordingly:
On September 2, 2025, 15 cattle were slaughtered near Fan village of Barkin Ladi LGA.
On September 7, 2025, Abubakar Wada was killed along with his 36 cattle and 46 were also stolen near Fan village of Barkin Ladi LGA.
On October 19, 2025, a herdsman, Shehu Isa, was killed near Ngel village in Jos South LGA.
On November 3, 2025, 73 cattle were stolen in the Foron district of Barkin Ladi LGA.
On November 8, 2025, 34 cattle were stolen from around Fan village of Barkin Ladi LGA.
On November 9, 2025, a cow was poisoned near Jol in Riyom LGA.
On 10 November 2025, 6 cattle were poisoned around Heipang in Barkin Ladi LGA.
On 15 November 2025, 13 cattle were killed and 12 seriously injured around Gero village in Jos South LGA.
On 21 November 2025, 4 cattle were killed around Maraban Kantoma, UTC Junction, Barkin Ladi LGA.
On November 29, 2025, two cattle were poisoned in Jol village in Riyom LGA.
On 30 November 2025, 7 cattle were poisoned in Kwi village in Riyom LGA.
On November 30, 2025, a herdsman, Yakubu Salihu, was attacked and killed while grazing at Forof in Bokkos LGA.
On December 4, 2025, a herdsman, Salihu Ibrahim, was attacked and fractured in the Forof community of Bokkos LGA while his cattle were being shot. He was attacked by suspected militiamen while grazing.
On December 11, 2025, 137 heads of cattle were stolen near Ndin village of Fan district of Barkin Ladi LGA.
On December 11, 2025, two cattle were poisoned outside Kwi village of Riyom LGA.
On December 12, 2025, 9 cattle were poisoned while grazing in Kwi village in Riyom LGA.
On December 14, 2025, 13 cattle were killed and another 12 injured on Gero road when suspected sponsored gunmen opened fire on grazing cattle and herders.
On December 23, 2025, 3 cattle were shot at Kopmur Mushere West. The matter is reported to the Bokkos DPO.
On December 25, 2025, three cattle were poisoned in Rwam of Mushere west of Bokkos LGA.
On December 28, 2025, gunmen opened fire on herdsmen at Conoil Station along Bukur Highway of Jos South LGA. “The victims suffered serious gunshot wounds.”
The MACBAN chairman added that so far the cattle killed in these incidents are worth more than 500 million naira, affecting the livelihood of Fulani herdsmen.
“How do we survive without our livelihoods? If we count all the attacks we suffered between January and December 2025, the scale of our suffering will be considered monumental. We believe that no tribe in this country would tolerate this violence against itself. It is because of our determination to coexist peacefully that we are speaking out. We too are Nigerians, with the right to exist like any other.
“Despite all this, the state government has not paid any compensation to our members. Even the donations of His Excellency, Remi Tinubu, to the victims of the crisis in the state, nothing went to the Fulani community just because of our identity,” Babayo stated.