Gumen have reportedly attacked and killed at least three farmers and injured one other in Larkas and Kodahas in Panyam District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident was confirmed to Daily Trust by the National President of Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Bulus Dabit, stating that the victims were k!lled in two separate attacks between Monday and Tuesday morning, September 9, 2025.
Dabit, who identified the deceased as Gideon Jise (41), Fidelis Usman (49), and Job Amis (28), said they were working on their farm when gunmen suddenly attacked and killed them.
The National President also disclosed that the gunmen later attacked Jwak village and rustled eight cattle belonging to their members.
Narrating how the incident started, Dabit noted that on Monday, gunmen attacked herders and rustled their cattle between Larkas and Panyam fish farm, explaining that youth from the Mwaghavul ethnic group in Panyam community confronted the rustlers while passing through the town and recovered 16 rustled cattle and handed them over to the security personnel in the area.
He said that despite these efforts, suspected herders from the Jenarate community seemed to be trailing the rustled cattle and attacked their members, killing three and injuring one, instead of commending their youth for recovering some of the rustled cattle.
Mr. Dabit condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric, and accused herders of responsibility for the incident.
Abubakar Gambo, Chairman of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) in Mangu LGA, dismissed the allegation, saying they were not aware of the attack on the farming community.
Instead, he said cattle belonging to their members were rustled on Monday in the area.
He said, “We are not aware of the attack, and we are not a party to it. We condemn any attack of that nature because we are law-abiding citizens. We have reported the rustling of our cattle to the security, and they should be allowed to investigate.
The MDA President commended the personnel of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) in Mangu for arresting the suspects, noting that cattle rustling, an organized crime, is already causing significant damage to government efforts to restore peace in the state, calling for the establishment of additional security blocks around the Larkas and Jwak communities, to prevent further loss of lives and property in the region.
