Palpable tension has gripped some communities in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State after over 100 cattle were killed and many injured by gunmen on Wednesday evening.
The state chairman of the Gan Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), Abdullahi Shehu, told Daily Trust that the incident occurred in the evening when the cattle were grazing.
- Russia-Ukraine war: Operational hitches delay evacuation of stranded Nigerians
- 2023: Tinubu consults Ekiti monarchs, says Nigeria needs serious change
Malam Nura Abdullahi, the state chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), also confirmed the incident, saying aside from those killed, hundreds of other cattle, rams and sheep were still missing.
Shehu said: “The cattle were just grazing when the gunmen stormed the general area of Maiyanga and started shooting sporadically. So far, more than 100 cattle were killed while many are still missing.
“We have informed the police and Operation Safe Haven command. The Sector 3 command had responded to the incidents and had arrested about seven persons in connection to the killing.
“We are tired of these atrocities. What have we done to deserve this? We have not destroyed any farm. We are calling on the security to do the needful and get to the bottom of this dastardly act.”
Both spokesmen of the State Police Command and Operation Safe Haven, ASP Ubah Gabriel and Major Ishaku Takwa respectively did not respond to text messages requesting comments on the incident.
Daily Trust reports that for the past one month, Bassa general area had not recorded any attack of killing until this Wednesday when gunmen attacked the herders and their cattle.
