A Fulani leader in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Malam Musa Sale, has alleged that Fulani herders have suffered far more attacks than they are accused of perpetrating in the state.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, Sale claimed that in the last five years, over 1,000 Fulani herders have been killed, while more than 5,000 cows have been stolen or slaughtered in repeated assaults across communities in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, and Riyom LGAs.
According to him, contrary to public narratives, herders in Plateau State are “often the victims” of coordinated attacks by local militias. He lamented that these incidents are rarely reported by the media, creating a skewed impression that Fulani herders are always the aggressors.
Sale alleged that in several situations, native youths—particularly among the Berom ethnic group—mount attacks on Fulani settlements, rustle cattle and, in some cases, kill young herders. Yet, he said, national attention only rises when Fulani groups retaliate.
He cited recent incidents, including an attack near Kombun and Bwai, where herders were allegedly blocked from moving cattle for two days until security agencies intervened. He also described Bokkos as “a dead zone” for herders, recounting how three young boys were attacked, one killed, and dozens of cows stolen.
Sale acknowledged the existence of criminal elements among Fulani groups but insisted that native tribes also harbor militias responsible for violence. He called on the media to “report all sides” of the ongoing crisis instead of attributing every violent incident solely to Fulani herders.
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