On Sunday, October 4, 2026, at about 4:30 pm, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a vehicle carrying traders returning from Kara Market in Bukuru, near the Total Roundabout in Bukuru. The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the incident. According to the police, the victims were travelling in an open-body Boxer vehicle, returning from the Kara Bukuru Livestock Market to Rafin Bauna village in Bassa Local Government Area.
The police spokesperson, DSP Alfred Alabo, confirmed the attack but declined to provide further details. The seven injured passengers were taken to the Military Clinic at Rukuba Barracks, Jos, where they were receiving treatment. A survivor, Murtala Isa Ibrahim, said about 20 people were in the vehicle when the gunmen attacked, and seven passengers were affected in the shooting.
Some reports claimed that one victim had died; however, the police had not confirmed any death as of the time of filing this report. The conditions of the injured passengers also remained unclear. The driver and Ibrahim were among those who witnessed the attack.
The latest attack has raised concerns over the safety of traders and herders using the route, which connects the Kara Bukuru livestock market with surrounding communities. Many traders and pastoralists depend on the market for their livelihoods. The attack is the latest in a series of incidents involving traders and herders in the area.
The Plateau chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) condemned the attack and urged security agencies to identify and arrest those responsible. The state chairman of the association, Ibrahim Babayo, called for increased security around the market route and strengthened surveillance in the area.
MACBAN also appealed to residents to avoid reprisals and allow security agencies to investigate the incident. The association stressed the need to protect residents regardless of their ethnic background or occupation. They recalled other reported attacks involving herders returning from the same market, including the reported killing of five Fulani herders around Kassa in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area on September 20.
The recurring attacks have raised concerns about the safety of pastoralists, traders, and other travellers. MACBAN referenced an earlier attack near the Conoil Filling Station in December 2025, which reportedly involved herders returning from the livestock market. The association urged security agencies to take action to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of residents.
Key points
- The gunmen's attack injured seven passengers, and police confirmed the incident.
- The attack occurred on the Bukuru Expressway, near the Total Roundabout in Bukuru.
- MACBAN condemned the attack and urged increased security around the market route.
