The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) has described claims by the Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) that gunmen attacked its members and stole 163 cows as a false alarm and a decoy to attack some local communities.
The Chairman of MACBAN in the state, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, had made the allegations in a statement on Thursday, stating that the incidents occurred at Nding community in Faan district of Barikin Ladi and Kukukah community of Jos East LGAs, where herders were attacked while 137 and 34 cows were rustled by gunmen suspected to be local militias.
But in a counter statement by the National President of BYM, Barr. Solomon Dalyop, the group denied any incident of cattle rustling around the Nding area.
He stated that the claims were false and one of the many tactics often initiated by the Fulani militias whenever they plan an attack.
“Based on our investigations, there was no incident of an attack or cattle rustling on Wednesday in Nding as reported by MACBAN,” Dalyop said.
“Such a claim is a fallacious and calculated plan to carry out a terror attack on our people.
“For years, the people of Faan have told Fulani and the Sector 4 Command that Faan does not have a grazing area and therefore Fulani should desist from grazing in any of its domains.
“We were shocked and surprised to hear that cattle were rustled in the area. From our findings, there was no such incident and even if there was such, they should allow security agencies to carry out their investigation to ascertain if it is true or not,” the BYM President said.
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