A fresh wave of tension has gripped the Murish community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State following the disappearance of a herder and the alleged rustling of 60 cattle in the area. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, has sparked concern among Fulani pastoralist groups who are calling for urgent intervention by security agencies.
The missing herder, identified as Malam Abdullahi Suleiman, was reportedly tending to the cattle when he was allegedly abducted alongside the livestock. Confirming the incident, Sale Yusuf Adamu, Chairman of the Coalition of Fulani Registered Organisations in Bokkos, stated that the stolen animals belong to two local cattle owners—Alhaji Sulaiman Musa and Alhaji Hudu (also known as Habane) Adamu.
According to Adamu, preliminary information suggests that the herder and the cattle were moved through several communities including Mangun, Ampang, Kerang, Kwambun, and Panyam—all within the troubled axis of Mangu. He appealed to security operatives to act swiftly to secure the release of the herder and recover the stolen animals, while also urging the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the criminal act.
However, the narrative has been met with some skepticism at the local level. Datu Mathias Joseph, Youth Chairman of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) in Mangu, responded to the allegations, stating that although he had heard rumours of such an incident, no cattle rustling had been verified within the area. “I reached out to our local unit leader in the vicinity, and while he confirmed that the Fulani are accusing them of rustling, he insisted that he hasn’t seen any cattle nearby in a long while,” Joseph explained.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to get official comments from the spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom, and that of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alabo Alfred, were unsuccessful as both did not respond to messages sent to their phones.
Meanwhile, in a bid to calm rising tempers within the pastoralist community, the Plateau State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Yusuf Ibrahim Babayo, urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding. Babayo confirmed that the matter has already been reported to Operation Safe Haven and expressed confidence that the security agencies are taking necessary steps to investigate the matter and recover the missing livestock.
“I strongly advise our members to avoid any form of retaliation. Let us allow the security agencies to do their work. We believe justice will be served, and the truth will come to light,” he said.
The incident adds to the growing list of unresolved security concerns in the state, particularly involving herders and local farming communities. With lingering mistrust between the groups, stakeholders continue to call for improved dialogue and increased surveillance to prevent further escalation.
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