Fresh Wave of Violence in Plateau State: Herders Killed, Homes Torched Amid Rising Tensions

Renewed violence has erupted in Plateau State, leaving four herders dead, nine cattle slaughtered, and multiple homes reduced to ashes in a series of attacks across Bokkos and Bassa local government areas.

Sources confirmed that the attacks, which took place on Tuesday, also left five women seriously injured by gunfire. The victims are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Bokkos town.

This latest outbreak follows a deadly overnight assault in the Kopmur community of Mushere District, where seven members of a single family were brutally murdered in their sleep, sparking fresh outrage and fear in the region.

The Plateau State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, confirmed the incidents. According to him, the first attack occurred in Tangoron village in Bassa LGA, while the second targeted Mushere in Bokkos LGA. Babayo noted that gunmen opened fire on a group of herders and their livestock, killing one herder and nine cows.

“I personally visited both sites. The matter has been reported to the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and the Plateau State Police Command. They have assured us they are on top of the situation and advised all parties to remain calm,” Babayo stated.

In response, the Chairman of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN), Garba Abdullahi, condemned the killings and urged security agencies to act swiftly and impartially in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

However, the violence has also reignited old tensions and competing narratives. The Chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC), Farmasum Fuddang, raised doubts over the claims of herder casualties, suggesting the reports may be an attempt to deflect blame from previous attacks allegedly carried out by herders on farming communities.

“If truly such an incident occurred, it should be formally reported to security agencies, not publicized without verification. These claims may be part of a broader strategy to mask their involvement in attacks on our communities,” Fuddang argued.

The latest incidents reflect a disturbing pattern of violence that has plagued Plateau State for years, rooted in longstanding disputes over land use, grazing rights, and ethnic divisions.

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In a separate but equally troubling development, a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongu, narrowly survived an attack by suspected armed herdsmen in neighboring Benue State. The ambush occurred on May 26, 2025, along the Makurdi–Naka Road in Gwer West LGA, when the cleric was returning to his parish in Naka.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, wounding the priest and abducting two passengers. Amid the chaos, the attackers fled into nearby forested terrain.

Prompt intervention by security forces led to the rescue of Rev. Fr. Atongu, who, despite severe blood loss, was stabilized at a local hospital. The other abductees were also rescued.

The Diocese of Makurdi has since confirmed the attack. In a statement signed by Rev. Fr. Shima Ukpanya on behalf of Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, the faithful were urged to pray for the swift recovery of Fr. Atongu.

“I write on behalf of the Bishop to ask for your prayers for the recovery of Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongu, who was shot this evening around Tyolaha, along the Makurdi–Naka Road, by suspected armed herdsmen. May our collective prayers and the care of our medical team bring him healing,” the letter read.

As the cycle of violence continues to claim lives and deepen distrust between communities, leaders and citizens alike are calling for truth, justice, and long-overdue peace in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

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Sahara reporters