The Berom Youth Movement (BYM) and the Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) have traded accusations over recent killings and destruction of property in parts of Plateau State, amid renewed concerns over insecurity in rural communities.
BYM alleged that armed herders carried out coordinated attacks on Berom farming communities, resulting in the deaths of several persons, the destruction of residential houses, and the widespread devastation of farmlands.
Following these allegations, the group called on security agencies to urgently step in, ensure the protection of affected communities, and bring all those responsible for the attacks to justice without delay.
The group further maintained that the incidents should not be dismissed as routine communal misunderstandings or isolated clashes, but rather treated as deliberate and targeted assaults that require immediate government attention, as well as a more decisive and coordinated security response.
On the other hand, MACBAN condemned the killing of all Nigerians, including herders, while also lamenting the loss of cattle, which it described as the main source of livelihood for many pastoral families.
The association further stated that herder communities had also suffered repeated attacks, cattle rustling, and loss of lives in various parts of the affected areas.
The association, however, cautioned against the tendency to generalise criminal activities or violent incidents to entire ethnic or occupational groups, stressing that such narratives are capable of worsening tensions and undermining peacebuilding efforts.
It therefore called for a comprehensive, transparent, and impartial investigation into the incidents, while also urging community leaders, youth groups, and media organisations to exercise restraint in their public statements so as not to inflame already fragile relations in the state.
Despite the divergence in their accounts of the incidents, both organisations were aligned in their position that the loss of any human life, whether from farming or herding communities, represents a profound tragedy that continues to undermine peace, stability, and socio-economic development in Plateau State.
They also called for increased security patrols, improved intelligence gathering, and the prosecution of anyone found culpable, regardless of background.
They also emphasised the urgent need for all parties involved to reject reprisals and retaliatory attacks, warning that any continuation of such cycles of violence would only deepen existing divisions and further prolong insecurity in already vulnerable communities.
The latest exchange of accusations comes amid persistent and recurring tensions between farming and herding communities in Plateau State, with various stakeholders continuing to advocate for stronger security interventions, credible and transparent investigations, and sustained dialogue aimed at addressing long-standing grievances and preventing further outbreaks of violence.