MACBAN alleges 18 cows killed, 130 rustled in Plateau group

The Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has alleged that about 18 cows belonging to their members were shot dead in the Howl community of Bokkos Local Government Area of the state in the last week.

The State Chairman of MACBAN Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, who made the allegations in a statement sighted by DAILY POST on Monday, also said at least 130 cattle were rustled during the same period by natives at different locations across the state.

In the statement, Babayo said the cattle were rustled on Wednesday, July 30th, and their whereabouts have remained unknown.

“Since Wednesday, July 30, we have been searching for the whereabouts of the cattle. The gunmen rustled 130 cattle and killed 18 others,” Babayo said.

The MACBAN chairman also disclosed that the incident had been reported to security agencies in the state. Still, he confessed that their efforts have been frustrated by the reluctance of security agencies to respond to their concerns.

Babayo also accused members of the Ron ethnic group, who make up a majority of the tribe, in the council of being behind the rustling and killing of the cattle.

But in a swift reaction to the accusation, Secretary of the Ron Kulere Jos and Environs, Barr. John Apollos Maton, denied the allegations, describing them as merely an excuse to perpetrate genocide.

In a short rebuttal statement, Maton said the allegations were a mere figment of the imagination of the Fulani group in a bid to divert attention from their atrocious acts in the council and other parts of Plateau State.

Maton noted that it has been the trademark of MACBAN to come up with such spurious allegations to justify attacks on communities by Fulani militias and urged security and intelligence agencies to be vigilant and guard against potential attacks.