Gunmen shoot dead 13 cattle, injure six in fresh attack on Plateau community

• Recall that exactly one week ago a herder was killed and over 100 cattle were rustled in Nafan Dreji, also in the Fan district of the LGA.

Gunmen terrorising Nigeria’s middle belt state of Plateau have struck again.

No fewer that thirteen cattle were killed when the rampaging gunmen attacked the Fan district of Ndim community in the Barikin Ladi LGA of the state.

According to Daily Trust, six others were also injured during the Tuesday attack on cattle rearers.

Recall that exactly one week ago a herder was killed and over 100 cattle were rustled in Nafan Dreji, also in the Fan district of the LGA.

Abubakar Gambo, Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the area, confirmed the latest attack to newsmen on Wednesday, stating that the affected cattle died immediately.

He disclosed that they had reported the incident to Sector 4 command of Operation Safe Haven in Barikin Ladi where some personnel of the operation had visited the scene and promised to track the perpetrators.

Muhammad Yakubu, one of the rearers who survived the attack, said “We were tending our cattle when suddenly, three young men armed with guns descended on us and started shooting sporadically. We were lucky to have fled the scene of the incident unhurt but 13 cattle were shot dead while six were injured.’’

One of the owners of the affected cattle, Auwal Ibrahim, also expressed worry over the incessant attacks and called on the security agencies to end the onslaught, adding that “There wasn’t any way we could slaughter them as all of them died instantly. By the time we arrived at the scene with soldiers, they cattle had already died.’’

Reacting to the incident, the state Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Nura Abdullahi, said the attacks were deliberate act of provocation.

He charged the security operatives to go after those behind the attacks.

He said ‘’What is happening to us in the Barikin Ladi area is a deliberate attempt to provoke our members. Last week, they killed more than 100 cattle, and yesterday they killed another 13. They are picking a fight with us. We are calling on security agencies to arrest those responsible for these brutal attacks.”