Fresh violence has rocked Plateau State, as three farmers were killed and another injured in separate attacks by suspected Fulani militias in Larkas and Kodahas, Panyam District of Mangu Local Government Area.
The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Da Bulus Dabit, who confirmed the incident to journalists on Thursday, said the victims were ambushed on their farms on Monday and Tuesday.
According to him, the deceased were identified as Gideon Jise, Fidelis Usman, and Job Amis, all of whom were killed while tending to their farmland.
Dabit added that in a second attack at Jwak village, the assailants rustled eight cattle belonging to locals, while another attempt on Monday saw them target herders and seize livestock between Larkas and the Panyam fish farm.
He explained that the damage would have been far worse but for the intervention of local youths in Panyam, who confronted the rustlers, recovered 16 stolen cattle, and handed them over to security operatives.
The MDA President condemned the attacks as “barbaric,” accusing herders of orchestrating the violence. He however commended troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) for their swift response and arrest of some suspects linked to the killings.
Dabit further warned that persistent cattle rustling and farm invasions were undermining government’s efforts at restoring peace in Plateau, and urged the establishment of more security checkpoints in Larkas and Jwak to forestall further bloodshed.
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