Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A fresh wave of violence has erupted in Plateau State, leaving at least four people dead in Riyom Local Government Area, with two prominent groups offering sharply conflicting accounts of the incident. The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and the Berom Youth Moulders Association have traded accusations over the killing, which occurred on Sunday, July 19, 2026, in the Jol Ward of Riyom LGA.
According to MACBAN, three Fulani herders were ambushed and killed while grazing their cattle around Tanjol in Jol Ward. A youth leader in Mahanga, Abdullahi Ibrahim Yusuf, alleged that the victims were grazing their cattle when gunmen attacked them around 2 p.m. He identified the deceased as Abdurrazak Abdullahi, 22; Husaini Idris, 23; and Yusuf Tukur, 19. He also stated that Ayuba Adam and Sadi Adamu sustained gunshot injuries, and that one cow was killed while another was injured during the attack. The Plateau State Chairman of MACBAN, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, condemned the killings, describing them as unprovoked. He accused members of the Berom ethnic group of carrying out the attack and appealed to Fulani youths to remain calm and refrain from reprisals, while urging security agencies to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.
However, the Berom Youth Moulders Association has rejected the allegations, describing them as false and "a calculated attempt to distort the truth." In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, the association alleged that armed men it described as "Fulani terrorists" invaded Jol community on Sunday afternoon, killing Thomas Damang, 48, and injuring Ishaku Pam, 22; Ezra Yakubu, 28; and Shedrack Danladi, 34. According to the association, local vigilantes working alongside security personnel repelled the attack, during which three of the alleged assailants were neutralised, while five others allegedly escaped with gunshot wounds. The association insisted that those reported by MACBAN as slain herders were, in fact, members of the group it alleged attacked the community.
The incident has heightened tensions in the area, with BYM calling on security agencies to arrest five injured suspects who it alleged escaped from the scene. The association argued that the injuries provide an opportunity for investigators to identify and prosecute those responsible, if found culpable. BYM further appealed to the Federal Government, the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations, the international community and the media to pay closer attention to what it described as coordinated disinformation surrounding the Plateau conflict.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Plateau State Police Command nor Operation Enduring Peace had issued an official statement on the incident. The conflicting accounts from MACBAN and BYM highlight the deep-seated tensions and mistrust between communities in the region, where violence has become a recurring tragedy. The attack in Riyom LGA adds to a series of violent incidents that have continued to cause concerns over security in parts of Plateau State despite ongoing efforts by security agencies to curb the violence.
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