Fresh violence in Plateau State has ignited a war of words between the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and the Berom Youths Moulder-Association (BYM), with each group presenting conflicting accounts of deadly incidents that occurred on January 6, 2026.
Miyetti Allah's Account: Herders Targeted by "Berom Terrorists"
The Plateau State chapter of MACBAN has decried what it termed a "gruesome attack by Berom terrorists on Fulani herders." According to the association's statement, the incident happened around 8:00 p.m. on the outskirts of the Gero community in Jos South Local Council.
MACBAN Chairman, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, claimed the victims had gone shopping in Gero and were returning to their cattle shed when they were ambushed. The attack resulted in the death of one Zakariya Abdullahi and left Jibrin Musa critically injured.
Babayo framed this as part of a sustained campaign, stating, "We have recorded countless attacks and killings in 2025." He cited another incident two weeks prior where five Fulani herders were allegedly attacked and injured along the Bukuru Expressway. He reported the latest violence to security agencies including Operation Enduring Peace, DSS, and the Police.
Berom Youths' Counter-Narrative: Indigenous Communities Under Siege
In a sharp rebuttal, the Berom Youths Moulder-Association condemned what it described as "recent coordinated attacks" on the Jos community in Riyom council area and Gero in Gyel District. The BYM stated these assaults led to the deaths of several individuals, naming Mr Pius Luka Dida, Markus Danladi, Peter, and Acham Ayuba.
BYM leader, Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, called the events a "grim reminder of the sustained and systematic terror being unleashed on indigenous communities of Plateau State." The group, through its National Publicity Secretary Rwang Tengwong, accused MACBAN of complicity and dismissed the chairman's claims as "false."
The association highlighted significant economic damage, alleging that armed herders destroyed dry-season farmlands in Kwi, inflicting losses estimated at over N14 million on local farmers.
Calls for Action and Escalating Tensions
The conflicting narratives have led to starkly different demands. MACBAN has called on its members to remain calm and law-abiding, allowing security forces to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators. They urged security agencies to intensify their efforts.
Conversely, the Berom Youths Moulder-Association has made more drastic demands, calling for the immediate proscription of MACBAN and the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of its leadership.
Both groups acknowledged the efforts of security agencies to maintain peace in Plateau State, but the latest exchange underscores the deep-seated tensions and the challenge of achieving lasting reconciliation in the region. The incidents of January 6, 2026, have further complicated the fragile security situation, with communities awaiting decisive action from authorities.
