Again, gunmen kill 22-year-old herder, rustle cattle in Plateau community
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Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) said gunmen attacked herders in Izovo community, Miango district of Bassa local government area of Plateau state, killing a herder, five cattle, and rustling 15 others. MACBAN gave the name of the deceased as Aliyu Abdulrazak. The latest incident occurred less than 24 hours after a similar attack was launched on herders around the same Izovo village where eight cattle were killed by unknown gunmen. Ya’u Idris, MACBAN chairman in Bassa, while narrating the incident to journalists on Monday in Jos, said the attack took place around 3 pm on Sunday while the herders were grazing the animals. Jilli Airstrike: Tinubu Meets Security Chiefs, IGP At Aso Rock How Colonel, 7 Soldiers died in fresh Boko Haram attack He said, “The attackers stormed the grazing area and started shooting sporadically, killing the deceased and five cattle and rustling 15. They killed the herder and dumped his body in a shallow grave. “Security agencies from Operation Enduring Peace, together with our members, went to the area and recovered the corpse. The sector commander of the operation and executive chairman of Bassa have all witnessed the burial. This attack is unprovoked because no crime has been committed against anyone,” Idris said. Condemning the incident, the state chairman of the group, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, described the killing as senseless. “Aliyu Abdulrazak was carrying out his lawful and peaceful grazing activities when he was brutally attacked and killed. This senseless act of violence is not only inhumane but also a grave violation of the fundamental right to life. “MACBAN views this incident as unacceptable and calls on security agencies to urgently investigate, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible for this barbaric act. Justice must be served to deter further occurrences and restore confidence among herders and law-abiding citizens. “ The association remains committed to peace and will continue to support all lawful efforts aimed at ensuring harmony and security for all,” Babayo added. Contacted on the development, Danjuma Dickson Auta, former National Secretary of Irigwe Development Association (IDA), confirmed that the incident happened in the area but dissociated their members from the crime. He said, “It has happened, but we don’t know the perpetrators. We believe the perpetrators are not from our land. It is purely a crime aimed at tarnishing the image of our people. We are therefore calling on the security agencies to track down those responsible and bring them to justice, irrespective of who they are.” Spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh, has yet to respond to WhatsApp message by our correspondent regarding the incident, as of the time of filing this report.