The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) in the Heipang community of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area in Plateau has rejected reports of attacks on herders in the area. Mr. Christopher Mwankon, the BYM Chairman, refuted the claims in a statement on Thursday in Jos. Reports from some media outlets suggested that suspected gunmen attacked herders in Heipang on Wednesday, stealing their cattle. Mwankon confirmed that while some herders were indeed attacked in Wereng, Riyom LGA, the claims regarding Heipang were false and misleading. He stated, “We want to make it clear that the alleged attack did not occur within the Heipang community but rather in Wereng, Riyom LGA.” This was corroborated by community youth leaders, administrative officers, and Sector Four Commander of Operation Safe Haven. Mwankon labeled the report as malicious and an intentional effort to damage the reputation of the peaceful residents of Heipang. He expressed that the report’s author and source were inciting violence in the community. Furthermore, he criticized the unprofessionalism of the report and urged security agencies to investigate and bring those responsible for criminal activities to justice.
