2 farmers killed, 300 cattle rustled in Plateau

At least two farmers were killed and one injured in an ambush on Wednesday in Teegbe community, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. The National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Youth Movement, Joseph Chudu Yonkpa, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to journalists in Jos, the state capital. The attack happened barely a […]

At least two farmers were killed and one injured in an ambush on Wednesday in Teegbe community, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Youth Movement, Joseph Chudu Yonkpa, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to journalists in Jos, the state capital.

The attack happened barely a week after a deadly assault on the Zikke community, also in Bassa LGA, where 52 people were killed.

Providing details of the latest incident, Yonkpa stated: “This morning, three of our people were ambushed. Two died instantly while one sustained bullet wounds and is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

“The deceased are Adamu Bala (38) and Gado Trra (45). In addition, over 20 farms were destroyed.”

As of press time, Major Samson Zhakom, spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, has not responded to inquiries regarding the incident.

Over 300 cattle rustled

Meanwhile, more than 300 cattle were reportedly rustled on Tuesday evening in the Jouckchal community, Panyam District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Mangu, Musa Muhammad, told journalists that the attack occurred around 4:30 p.m. while the cattle were grazing.

“The rustlers stormed the area in large numbers, shooting sporadically and causing herders to flee for safety,” he said.

He said troops were deployed Tuesday night, but only five of the 300 cattle had been recovered as of Wednesday.

Muhammad accused youths from the Mwaghavul ethnic group of perpetrating the rustling-an allegation strongly denied by the group.

Major Samson Zhakom, spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, did not respond to requests for comment on the incident.

Meanwhile, Muhammad also disclosed that the death toll from an alleged cattle poisoning near the INEC office in Mangu had risen to 36, with 10 additional deaths recorded between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

He recalled that on April 9, another 60 cattle were rustled in the Murish community, Mangu LGA, and the herder involved remains missing.