The Fulani community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State has raised the alarm over what it described as sustained and targeted attacks against herdsmen, including cattle rustling and poisoning of livestock by ethnic militia groups allegedly operating under the guise of local vigilantes.

The आरोप were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by a representative of the Fulani community in the council, Abdullahi Yusuf, who said the attacks have become a disturbing pattern aimed at provoking herdsmen into retaliation so they can be branded as aggressors and enemies of peaceful coexistence in the state.

Yusuf cited an incident on Monday, February 2, in which a group he described as “Berom militias” allegedly opened fire on herdsmen who were peacefully grazing their cattle in Weren Camp, rustling an unspecified number of cows. He also alleged that three cows were poisoned in Kwi district of the local government area.

“Innocent Fulani herdsmen have become targets of ethnic militias in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State and no one is talking about these targeted attacks,” Yusuf said.

“These attacks follow a similar pattern where herders are traced to grazing areas, attacked, and when they flee for safety, their cows are stolen. Another disturbing trend is the poisoning of our cows, which they know are our main source of livelihood.”

He noted that the Fulani community has continued to urge its members to remain calm and allow security agencies to handle the situation, but lamented that their restraint has been misinterpreted as weakness.

According to him, the latest incident in Kwi village is part of a growing trend, with repeated cases of cattle poisoning and attacks threatening the safety of pastoralists and their families.

“The deliberate attacks on livestock and herdsmen show a coordinated effort to destabilise Plateau communities. Failure to decisively address these threats risks normalising violence, increasing civilian casualties, and entrenching armed militias as de facto security actors,” Yusuf warned.

Condemning the attacks as criminal and unacceptable, Yusuf described them as a serious threat to peaceful coexistence in Riyom and surrounding communities.

He called on security agencies to investigate the incidents, identify those responsible and bring them to justice, while also urging the Plateau State Government to adopt proactive measures to protect lives, property and livestock in the affected areas.

“We therefore call for urgent joint security measures, including sustained patrols, intelligence-led operations, and decisive disruption of cattle rustling and poisoning networks to prevent further deterioration of the security situation in Plateau State,” he added.