Conflict: Irigwe alleges plan to attack their community

The Irigwe ethnic group in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State has alleged that a planned attack has been perfected against members of their community.

 In a statement by the Secretary-General of the group, Danjuma Dickson Auta, who accused Fulani of the planned attack said the group had received information on how the attack would be launched.

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 “As a follow-up to our earlier statement issued, on the destruction of our crops and the killings of some cows by some individuals, we wish to state here that we received vital information of planned orchestrated and coordinated attacks on our communities by the Fulani armed men.

 “They have since surveyed their possible areas of attack through the recent exploration of our communities by way of the grazing they’ve been carrying out relentlessly. They have destroyed farm crops worth over 4 million naira and have further impoverished our people who are mainly farmers.

 “Therefore, enough is enough, if we have chosen the part of peace, then let us tour it because we can no longer tolerate it anymore. We, therefore, wish to call on government and the security operatives to double efforts in apprehending those behind all these evil acts and bring them to book,” the statement added.

 Reacting to the allegation, the State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Malam Nura Abdullahi, denied the allegation, describing it as baseless.

 “They know the atrocities they have committed. We didn’t destroy any farm. We are in the dry season. Where is the farm that we will destroy? Let them show us the farm that we have destroyed. They only want to hide under farm destruction to cover the damage they caused to us. They killed hundreds of cattle and shared the meat.

“About seven of their members were caught with the meat in their houses. We are not going to tolerate that. This is not the first they would kill our cattle for nothing. Do you know how much you can buy a cow now in the market?  We are talking hundreds of cows?,” the chairman added.

 On Friday, Daily Trust reported Fulani cattle were killed in the Maiyanga community of the LGA, a development that Irigwe said was caused by the provoked youth of their land.

 Our correspondent reports that the two warring parties have been at loggerhead and several efforts by different stakeholders were put in place to ensure peace between them but such efforts have been fruitless.