Herders Suffer More Challenges in Plateau Compared to Other States — Fulani Leader

A Fulani leader in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Malam Musa Sale, has said that contrary to widespread perceptions, Fulani herders are often the victims of violent attacks and killings in the state rather than the aggressors.

In an exclusive interview with NIGERIA NEWS 247 on Sunday, Sale claimed that over the past five years, more than 1,000 Fulani people have been killed, and over 5,000 cows either killed or stolen by native militias in areas including Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, and Riyom local government areas.

“I can tell you that Fulani herders suffer more attacks in Plateau State than in other states, especially in the Middle Belt,” Sale said. “Most of these incidents go unreported because the media refuses to cover what we are going through. They only report when our people retaliate after being attacked or having their cows stolen.”

Sale lamented that even when herders are clearly victims, the narrative is often reversed to portray them as aggressors. He alleged that youth gangs from native communities, particularly the Beroms, attack Fulani settlements, kill herders, and rustle cattle, but these incidents rarely receive media attention.

He cited recent incidents, including attacks on young herders in Bokkos, where a 13-year-old boy was killed and over 50 cows stolen. Sale also described cases where Berom youths allegedly attack their own communities and farmland, only to blame Fulani herders for the damage.

“We are not saying there are no criminals among our people, but there are also criminals among native tribes like the Beroms and Mwaghavuls, who form militia gangs,” he said. “All we are asking is for the media to also report on their criminal activities instead of always attributing every act of violence in the state to Fulani herders. We are victims too, yet no one seems to care because of the prejudice against us.”

Sale called for fair reporting and public recognition of the challenges herders face, emphasizing the need for balanced coverage of conflicts in Plateau State.