A coalition of Fulani organisations in Plateau State, including Lawul Fulaku, Bajoil Fulani, Jonde Jam Kautal Hore, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), announced on Sunday that it had lost 350 members in the state between October 2023 and January 2024.
The coalition also said that it lost 834 cattle in different communities within the state’s Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Mangu LGAs during the specified period.
For the first time, the Fulani communities’ leadership has publicly expressed their concerns over the recent attacks and killings in the villages of Bokkos and Barikin Ladi LGAs, which resulted in the deaths of over 190 people.
The groups claimed that Fulani people living in different areas were being harassed, mistreated, intimidated, and in many cases killed during a news conference in Jos that was presided over by State Chairman of MACBAN, Malam Nura Adullahi.
“It is documented that between August 29, 2023, and December 24, 2023, a total of 834 cattle were rustled in Kawel, Rom, and Sat in Bokkos, along with their accomplices from Mangu LGA,” Abdullahi stated.
“Early last year, attacking marauders began unleashing their dastardly acts on Fulani communities in Mangu LGA between April 14th and July 15th. The atrocities committed against the Fulani included the brutal killing of over 350 individuals and the burning down of more than 115 villages to ashes, resulting in the destruction of all properties and food items.
“A total of 23,515 internally displaced persons IDPs are residing in camps, relatives homes and neighborhood states such as Bauchi, Kaduna , Nasarawa and Taraba,” he added.
He stated that household properties worth billions of naira were also lost during the carnage, adding that the entire Fulani communities were displaced from eight districts including Mangu, Panyam, Pushit, Kerang, Bwoi, Kombun, Ampang and Mangum.
According to him, some of the villages where the Fulani communities were displaced include Bwoi, Kombun, Sarfai, Rinago, Jukga, Kuwes, Kaangag , Farinkasa, Kerana, Lugga, Dimeza, Fungong, Gindirin, Gok, Bunghan, Gida, Milet, Rufwang, Dejwak, Lupo, Wushik, among others.
The chairman disclosed that all the atrocities committed against them were in the records of security agencies in the state.
However, the groups called on all their members to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands, urging security agencies to investigate the recent happenings and ensure justice.
