Suspected gunmen kill cows, abduct children from Plateau herders’ settlement

Suspected armed assailants in the early hours of Sunday attacked a cattle tent in Wumat, a community in Tarangol District of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, killing five cows and abducting two young boys.

Zagazola Makama reports that the victims, Shafiu Nuhu and Abba Nuhu, are sons of a herder Nuhu Ibrahim.

According to the Ardo (Fulani leader) of the district, the attackers stormed the makeshift settlement, slaughtered livestock, and kidnapped the children before escaping.

Fulani elders in the area expressed concern about the increasing violence targeting their people, and appealed for urgent intervention to ensure the children are rescued to prevent more bloodshed.

Personnel from the security agencies visited the scene and have commenced a manhunt for the assailants.

Plateau State continues to experience pervasive violence fuelled by farmer-herder violence.

Herders argue that attacks on their communities are often underreported, and this sometimes lead to deadly reprisals, especially in the absence of immediate and fair intervention.

Suspected gunmen kill cows, abduct children from Plateau herders’ settlement