Plateau cow thieves kill herdsmen, residents flee

• Residents of Fioron in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State have fled the area for fear of reprisal following the killing of nine Fulani herdsmen by gunmen.

Two others were also said to have sustained gunshot injuries.

The rustlers were also said to have stolen more than 765 cattle as they were being grazed by their owners.

Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nigeria, Plateau State chapter, Alh Haruna Hussaini, told newsmen that the incident occurred on Sunday night.

He said the Police in Barkin Ladi had recovered 84 of the cattle and arrested two of the rustlers.

“The DPO in Barkin Ladi has assured us that they will do their best to recover the remaining cattle. But the nine boys have been killed. Our appeal is to youths, who carry out this acts, to please leave us alone. They should stop attacking us and stealing our cattle,” he said.

Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau State, Emmanuel Abu, who confirmed the incident, said two of the rustlers had been arrested.

He added that the police also recovered 84 cows while another 147 were also recovered by the owners.

Abu said 513 cattle were rustled and not 765 as alleged by MACBAN, stressing that two corpses of the herders were also found while the remaining seven, said to have been killed, were still missing