The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) has faulted claims by the Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) that gunmen attacked herders and rustled 163 cows in Barkin Ladi and Jos East.
MACBAN Chairman, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, had alleged in a Thursday statement that armed men launched separate attacks in Nding community of Faan District in Barkin Ladi and Kukukah in Jos East, carting away 137 and 34 cows respectively.
But BYM, in a counter statement issued by its National President, Barr. Solomon Dalyop, said no such incident occurred within the Nding axis, describing the allegations as misleading and diversionary.
He maintained that the narrative was part of a recurring pattern allegedly deployed to heighten tension or provide cover for planned hostilities against local communities.
“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.
BYM urged security agencies to disregard the alarm raised by MACBAN and conduct an independent assessment to maintain peace and avert unnecessary tension in the affected areas.