The Coalition of Fulani groups in Plateau State has claimed that the recent attack on their members in Bassa Local Government Area of the state is a confirmation of the Department of State Services’ (DSS) alert of threat against their members.
The group said this at a press conference in Jos, capital of Plateau, while reacting to the attack on Fulani herders in Kwal District of Bassa Local Government Area of the State, on Wednesday.
Two herders and over 150 cattle were killed in the incident.
In a statement, chairman of the coalition, Garba Abdullahi, condemned the attacks, describing it as barbaric, inhuman and uncalled for.
The coalition also accused Irigwe ethnic group of being responsible for the attack, an allegation that was denied by the leadership of Irigwe Development Association.
The Chairman said, “With heavy heart, we want to bring to the notice of the general public, security agencies, state and federal governments, other stakeholders and the international community, the continuous aggression on Fulani people in Plateau state. On Wednesday, 8th May, 2024 at about 10:00am, the Irigwe militia of Maiyanga came out in their numbers to attack and kill two (2) herders, brutally killed over 150 cows valued at One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N150, 000,000) on the average (gunshot, butchered and carried some meat to their houses), and rustled over two hundred (200) others valued at more than Two Hundred Million Naira (N200, 000,000) on the average.
“170 sheep were also rustled valued at N50,000 0n the average amounting to Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand (N1,800,000). Sunusi Abdulkarim was killed; his hand, leg and private part were cut off without any provocation. Abdul Idris was gruesomely killed by the same people. This attack is ‘one attack too many.
“We are left in doubt and demand for answers as to the reasons why the attack was carried out by the irigwe militia. Our lives, families and sources of living are in danger and left in doubt as to what will happen to our people any moment anywhere on the Plateau.
“The attack was well coordinated in such a way that we noticed coincided with the date (8/4/2024) the Department of State Services (DSS) issued an intelligence report on an impending attack on Fulani communities in Bokkos and Mangu during the Sallah period, which successfully curbed. The report saved a lot Fulani lives and property from being destroyed.
“The attack of Maiyanga came exactly one month (8/05/2024) after the intelligence report of the DSS which convinced us of been well coordinated and deliberate. Our great nightmare is that the government of Plateau state did not release any press statement whatsoever condemning what happen as if nothing has been done to anybody.
“This left the Fulani people in doubt as to the sincerity and commitment of the government of Plateau state on protecting Fulani lives and property which is paramount in maintaining peace and peaceful coexistence. It should be recalled that in March, 2024 alone, more than 600 cows were killed and rustled in Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau state and nothing has been done to arrest the situation, compensate the victims or bring back the rustled cows till today.”
Attack not carried out by our members – Irigwe
The leadership of Irigwe Development Association accused of of carrying out the attack denied the allegation, saying it is an act of criminality.
In a statement, Secretary-General of the group, Danjuma Dickson Auta, said: “We must stop giving credit to criminality. I am aware that last week there was an Irigwe man that was killed by suspected criminals that are of Fulani extraction and again our attention was also drawn to an alleged killing of cows around Maiyanga village of kwall District.
“To me I want to condemn both acts in totality and make it categorically clear that both the killing of the man in Maiyanga and the cows were not done by Fulani as a people or Irigwe as a people but these are pure acts of criminalities and the criminals are either Fulani or Irigwe therefore I’ll call on the security agencies to go after the criminals and not the tribes. Enough of all this nonsense we must not support injustices whatsoever, I am sure that the security are on top of the situation and the leadership of the Irigwe nation will cooperate with them to ensure that justice is done, ” Auta explained.
However, the Fulani groups while calling for compensation of the huge losses in the incident , called on security agencies to arrest the perpetrators of the act, appealing to their members to remain calm and law abiding.
