Tensions are rising in the Murish community of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, following the reported disappearance of a herder and the alleged theft of 60 cattle.
Sale Yusuf Adamu, Chairman of the Coalition of Fulani Registered Organisations in Bokkos, identified the missing herder as Abdullahi Suleiman. According to him, Suleiman vanished while tending to livestock on April 9, 2025.
“In total, about 60 cattle belonging to Alhaji Sulaiman Musa and Alhaji Hudu (Habane) Adamu were rustled in Murish,” Adamu said. “One of the herders, Malam Abdullahi Suleiman, was taken alongside the animals. They were reportedly seen being led towards the Mangun, Ampang, Kerang, Kwambun, and Panyam axis.”
He appealed to security forces to urgently intervene by locating the missing herder, recovering the stolen livestock, and arresting those responsible for the act.
However, conflicting accounts have emerged. Datu Mathias Joseph, Youth Chairman of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) in Mangu, disputed the claims when contacted. While he acknowledged hearing rumors about the incident, he insisted there was no evidence of cattle rustling in the area.
“I reached out to our unit leader on the ground, and he confirmed that while the Fulani are accusing them of rustling, he hasn’t seen any cattle in that vicinity recently,” Joseph said.
Efforts to obtain official comments from security agencies have so far been unsuccessful. Calls and messages to Major Samson Zhakom, spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, and DSP Alabo Alfred, Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Police Command, went unanswered.
Amidst the growing concern, Yusuf Ibrahim Babayo, the Plateau State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has called for restraint among Fulani herders.
“We urge all our members to remain calm and allow the security agencies to do their job. The matter has already been reported to Operation Safe Haven, and we believe efforts are underway to recover the missing cattle and resolve the issue peacefully,” Babayo stated.
The situation remains tense as the community awaits official confirmation and possible security action.
