A Fulani youth group, under the umbrella of ‘Concerned Fulani Youths in Plateau’ has given reasons the lingering violence and crisis in the state will not end soon.

According to the group, true peace and genuine reconciliation among host communities and Fulani people cannot be achieved if local gangs, especially the “Berom Militias,” do not stop attacking and killing innocent herdsmen and their livestock, which is their only means of livelihood.

The group, after a meeting in Jos on Tuesday, said as much as the Fulani people desire a peaceful coexistence with their hosts, they would also not sit back and watch their people being killed and their livestock stolen by local gangs.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting signed by its convener, Saleh Umaru, the Fulani group insisted that most of the attacks attributed to Fulani herdsmen have been more of reprisal attacks to either avenge the killings of their people or to recover their stolen cows.

“After a wide range consultations with different Fulani groups, communities and individual herders across Plateau State, the Concerned Fulani Youths in Plateau, have come to the unanimous conclusion that a major cause of the lingering violence between herdsmen and local communities especially in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas which are predominantly Berom lands are as a result of attacks and killings of Fulani people by Berom Militia gangs,” Umaru said.

“While we are not completely exonerating the herdsmen as there are some who have taken criminality as a way of life, our wide consultations revealed that most of the violence is reprisal attacks.

“The Fulani people are generally peace-loving, who go about their business of rearing their cattle in peace, but no one would relax when their brothers are being killed, their wives and daughters raped and their settlements destroyed. They will definitely react to protect themselves and stop further attacks.

“It is on record that many Fulani settlements have been invaded and sacked by the Berom Militia gangs in local communities while hundreds of herders have been killed and thousands of livestock have been stolen. In such situations, there will naturally be reprisal reactions.

“What we want the Plateau State government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang to do is to come up with a law that criminalizes the ethnic militia gangs. Security agencies should also clamp down on them to deter others. If these measures are not taken, we believe that the much-needed peace on the Plateau will not be achieved,” Umaru concluded.

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have destroyed two improvised explosive devices, IEDs, and conducted extensive clearance operations across parts of Borno State as part of ongoing wet season offensives aimed at denying Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists freedom of movement.

Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the development in a post shared via his X handle.

According to Makama, the coordinated operations were carried out on Monday, July 21, under Operation DESERT SANITY V by troops of Sector 2 in collaboration with volunteer forces.

Makama quoted intelligence sources as saying that troops of the 19 Battalion (Mechanised) and 25 Brigade Garrison, comprising 134 soldiers supported by 100 volunteer fighters, mounted on four Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, six gun trucks, three troop-carrying vehicles, one VP1 vehicle and 17 motorcycles, carried out a clearance operation along the Damboa–Bulabulin–Kumala Main Supply Route and adjoining communities.

During the operation, troops swept the Kumala and Bulabulin general areas, where they discovered two primed improvised explosive devices planted along the route by suspected terrorists.

The explosive devices were safely detonated in situ, preventing what security sources described as a potential attack on military personnel and civilian road users.

The troops also encountered a suspected terrorist logistics supplier, who fled on sighting the advancing forces. 

In a related operation conducted simultaneously, combined troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion, 231 Battalion and 331 Artillery Regiment, alongside 117 volunteer fighters, carried out clearance patrols across Diwa, Liya, Bam, Ngilu, Sura, Pela and Pela Sanga communities.

The combined force, comprising 32 soldiers mounted on two MRAPs and 75 motorcycles, thoroughly searched the communities and surrounding areas without making contact with insurgents or discovering any terrorist camps.

Military sources, according to Makama, said the clearance operations form part of sustained efforts under Operation DESERT SANITY V to dominate the theatre, secure key supply routes, detect explosive hazards and prevent terrorists from re-establishing camps during the rainy season.

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Fear has gripped residents of Benue State as suspected Fulani herdsmen continue to cause mayhem in various communities.

DAILY POST reports that Benue South (Idoma speaking area) is bearing the brunt of recent attacks, which have claimed many lives and property.

The recent wave of deadly attacks in that area has claimed nearly 60 lives, centered primarily around the Otukpo Local Government Area. 

The attack, often attributed to suspected armed herdsmen, has triggered widespread protests and caused a massive humanitarian displacement crisis, with youths of the community storming the palace of the paramount ruler of the Idoma nation (Och’Idoma) with corpses of those killed by the attackers.

Many residents suspect that the fresh wave of violence involves retaliatory acts following the June 26 ambush and murder of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isa.

The recent attacks came after a yet-to-be-identified Fulani man threatened that the people of Benue State would regret the killing of the MACBAN president in the state.

DAILY POST reports that no fewer than 10 persons were confirmed dead after separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

The attack started when suspected assailants attacked Akpachi village in Ugboju community, killing two persons and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.

Barely 24 hours later, the attackers invaded the Otukpo Nobi community, where eight persons were killed and several others injured.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/12/scores-feared-dead-as-suspected-herdsmen-launch-fresh-attacks-in-benue

Away from that and less than 48 hours, residents of Ondo community in Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, fled their homes following a fresh attack by suspected Fulani armed herdsmen.

The attackers stormed the community in the early hours of the day and opened fire, forcing residents to flee for safety.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/14/residents-flee-as-suspected-herdsmen-attack-another-community-in-benue

Again, about two days later, suspected armed herders stormed Ankpechi community in Oglewu Ward, along the Otukpo-Oweto-Abuja Road in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, shot at residents and looted several provision stores.

Suspected armed herders also stormed Ankpechi community in Oglewu Ward, along the Otukpo-Oweto-Abuja Road in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, shot at residents and looted several provision stores.

The attackers were said to have stormed the area and fired sporadically forcing residents, including traders and customers, to flee for safety.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Mr Gabriel Adole, said the attackers were suspected armed herdsmen.

“Yes, there was an attack this morning between 8am and 9am by suspected armed herdsmen. They came to Ankpechi community in Oglewu Ward, shooting sporadically. They shot one person, forcing residents to scamper for safety,” Adole said.