Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Two people have been killed and several cattle rustled after suspected armed militia attacked Fulani herders along the Jong-Nyeriwei road and in the Dorowa Babuje community of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, in the latest eruption of violence that has continued to fuel tensions between communities in the troubled North-Central state. The incidents occurred on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, within hours of each other, raising fresh concerns over the potential for retaliatory attacks in the affected communities.
According to security sources, troops of Sector 4, Operation Enduring Peace, responded to reports of sporadic gunfire along the Jong-Nyeriwei road at about 1:09 p.m. On arrival, the troops discovered that a group of armed Berom militia had attacked Fulani herders in the area. A 19-year-old herder identified as Ishaku Yakubu, from Jong Village, was reportedly killed in the attack. The assailants also shot and killed seven cattle, while a sizeable number of other cattle were allegedly rustled and taken away from the area. The troops subsequently dominated the general areas of Nyeriwei and Enzom in an effort to locate the rustled livestock and apprehend those responsible.
In a related incident, troops received a distress call from the Dorowa Babuje community in Barkin Ladi at about 2:25 p.m. and immediately moved to the area, where they discovered that a 23-year-old man identified as Andata had been shot dead by armed Fulani youths around Marit junction in Dorowa Babuje. The killing appeared to be a direct reprisal for the earlier attack on the herders, underscoring the cycle of violence that has become a recurring feature of the security crisis in Plateau State.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria confirmed the attack on the herders, with the state chairman, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, telling journalists in Jos that the incident occurred while the herders were tending to their cattle. He condemned the attack as "one too many," describing it as another painful loss of innocent life and means of livelihood. Babayo said two other herders were injured during the attack, while several cattle belonging to the herdsmen were reportedly rustled. He called on security agencies to immediately investigate the attack, apprehend those responsible, and ensure they are brought to justice in accordance with the law. "The cycle of violence must not continue without accountability," he said.
The association also called on the Plateau State Government to strengthen the protection of lives and property across the state, regardless of ethnic or religious background. MACBAN urged members of the Fulani community to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands while investigations continue. "We are committed to peaceful coexistence and call on the Fulani community to remain calm, avoid retaliation, and cooperate with security agencies during investigations," Babayo added. The association expressed condolences to the family of the deceased herder and sympathised with the owner of the cattle over the loss.
The attack is part of a broader pattern of violence that has plagued Barkin Ladi and other parts of Plateau State in recent months. In August 2026, MACBAN alleged that it had lost over 200 pastoralists, with more than 40 settlements burnt in the state. The association had previously raised the alarm over the killing of 2,000 cows and 100 herders. The cycle of attacks and counter-attacks has been a recurring feature of the crisis, with an initial attack on herders or livestock theft by the Berom militia frequently triggering retaliatory violence against another community.
The security situation in Plateau State has remained tense, with Governor Caleb Mutfwang repeatedly condemning what he describes as an invasion rather than a farmer-herder clash. The governor had earlier summoned the State Security Council to review the deteriorating security situation following a series of deadly attacks that claimed lives and displaced residents across various local government areas. The Commissioner of Police in the state had also visited affected communities in the wake of previous attacks.
The Headquarters of Operation Enduring Peace has intensified efforts to prevent reprisal attacks and contain the situation. Troops have been directed to sustain patrols and surveillance across vulnerable communities and road corridors to prevent further attacks and ensure that those responsible for the killings and cattle rustling are brought to justice. Residents in the affected communities have been urged to remain calm, avoid taking the law into their own hands, and provide credible information to security agencies. As the cycle of violence continues to claim lives and livelihoods, the people of Barkin Ladi are left to wonder when the bloodshed will end and whether the promises of protection will ever be fulfilled.
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