A 16-year-old herder, Abubakar Abdullahi, was killed in an incident involving security operatives in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. According to the herding community, security personnel stormed the area around 4 a.m. on Friday, shooting sporadically while residents were sleeping. The community alleged that one person was killed and another injured in the incident.
Usaini Langai, a survivor of the incident, recounted the events, stating that soldiers stormed their room at night, brought them out, and killed his colleague instantly. Langai claimed that the soldiers then burnt houses and killed some cattle. He further alleged that the soldiers shot him twice and abandoned him, but some residents later evacuated him to the hospital in Barkin Ladi.
The father of the deceased herder condemned the incident, stating that the security operatives stormed their community around 4 a.m. and killed his son for no offence. He alleged that the operatives opened fire at their houses and abducted another herder, shooting him twice in the back. The father described the incident as unjust, noting that nothing had happened in the area to warrant the invasion.
Abdulhadi Muhammad, whose house was burnt during the incident, also condemned the attack and called on the government to intervene. Muhammad stated that a day before the incident, their cattle were poisoned, and he had reported the case to security forces. He expressed surprise that his house was burnt without any reason and demanded that the government take action.
Alhaji Bello Adamu, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the area, described the attack as deliberate. Adamu stated that the security forces killed their people and cattle without provocation, and their problem was that they were Fulani. He called on the government to take action if it was not directing the security forces to kill them.
The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in the area. The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has been advocating for the rights of herders, who have been affected by various incidents of violence and insecurity. The association has called for the government to take action to protect herders and their livestock.
As of press time, the spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh, had not responded to inquiries regarding the incident. The police PRO also did not respond to inquiries. The incident has sparked tensions in the area, with residents calling for justice and action from the government to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Key points
- A 16-year-old herder was killed in a security operation in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
- The herding community alleged that security personnel stormed the area, shooting sporadically, and killed one person and injured another.
- The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in the area, with residents calling for justice and action from the government.
