A herder, Abdulrazak Yusuf, has reportedly gone missing at Bisici community, Foron District, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The state chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, stated that 41 cattle were also rustled during an attack on Monday.

Babayo said a search operation for the missing herder was unsuccessful, but the victim’s clothes were found in the bush, adding that he had informed the GOC 3 Division of the Nigerian army, Folusho Oyinlola.

The MACBAN chairman accused Berom youths of being responsible for the incident, but the group denied the allegation.

Narrating how the incident occurred, the state chairman said, “On the 12th May, 2025, vigilante and some Berom youths from Bisici mobilized and attacked a Fulani community and rustled about 41 cattle and a Fulani boy Abdulrazak Yusuf is still missing. This morning (Tuesday), soldiers from Sector 4 went to search for the boy, they only discovered his clothes.

“On the same day (Monday), a similar incident occurred around Diyan village, where Berom individuals attacked and killed 5 cows instantly, rustling about 112 cows. However, thanks to the intervention of soldiers from Sector 6, approximately 102 cows were rescued.

“Additionally, on May 8, 2025, Berom youths from Farin Lamba in Jos South LGA rustled about 18 cows, which have yet to be recovered. Furthermore, on May 7, 2025, Berom youths from Gwarim village in Riyom LGA severely beat a Fulani boy, Yahaya Sale, who was hospitalized and sadly passed away on May 8, 2025.”

President of Berom Youths Moulder Association (BYM), Dalyop Solomon, denied the allegation, describing it as propaganda.

He said, “In Bisichi, as at 12th May, 2025, information available has it that conventional security agents alongside vigilante and Ardo Bisichi went on flush-out exercise to send away unidentified Fulani from the general area. The exercise, led by security agents manning the area, wouldn’t have possibly accommodated participation of Berom Youths. This is just to fuel the propaganda tool of the MACBAN, which ought to have cautioned its members.

“It is a thing of concern that 1 cow was reportedly killed in the bush of Diyan village in Rim Community and some rustled by some criminal elements, whom were trailed and the cows apprehended through the intel given by Berom natives of Byei/Kum village. The MACBAN, instead of appreciating the effort and intel provided by Berom youths, rather chose to err by alleging that Berom youths were responsible for rustling of cows.

The BYM president, however, alleged that on Monday night, one 24-year-old Dauda Joshua of Tanchol village in Gyel District, Jos South LGA, was ambushed and shot dead by militants, who forced their way through Gero road into the hinterland of the area. (Daily Trust)