A Fulani leader in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Malam Musa Sale, has alleged that despite public perception that Fulani herders are responsible for most attacks in the state, his people have been the primary victims of killings, cattle rustling and coordinated assaults.
Sale claimed that herders in the state have suffered more deaths and losses than those in any other Middle Belt state.
“I can tell you that Fulani herders suffer more attacks in Plateau State than in other states, especially in the Middle Belt,” he told Daily Post.
Sale revealed that in the last five years, the Fulani community has recorded over 1,000 deaths and the loss of more than 5,000 cows across Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Bassa and Riyom LGAs.
He accused native militias of targeting Fulani settlements, often without any media coverage.
“Most of these attacks and killings of our people are not reported because the media here refuse to report what we are going through,” he said.
“They only report when our people get frustrated and decide to go after those who kill our herders and steal our cows.”
According to Sale, even when herders are victims, the narrative is often flipped to portray them as aggressors. He alleged that youth groups, particularly among the Berom, routinely attack Fulani communities with little or no attention from the media or authorities.
“In some cases, native youths form gangs and attack Fulani settlements, kill our people and rustle our cows. These attacks are never reported, but when our people decide to fight back, the whole world sees it,” he said.
The Fulani leader insisted that many of those killed were young boys engaged in routine grazing activities.
Sale cited a recent confrontation in Mangu where Fulani herders moving their cattle were blocked by groups of youths between Kombun and Bwai.
“For two days, they did not allow us to pass. It took the intervention of security personnel before we could continue,” he recalled.
He also described Bokkos as “a dead zone for herders”, claiming that a few months ago, three young Fulani boys were attacked while grazing, leading to the death of a 13-year-old and the theft of over 50 cows.
Sale further alleged that some youths sometimes attack and destroy their own communities, only to blame the Fulani herders.
“Sometimes, these Berom youths deliberately attack their own communities, destroy farmlands and set fire to villages, then turn around and accuse Fulani herders,” he said.
‘We Have Records and We Will Make Them Public’
Sale stated that the Fulani community has documented several incidents of attacks and, at the appropriate time, will make the records public.
While acknowledging that there are criminal elements among Fulani herders, he insisted that the same is true among native tribes.
“I am not saying there are no criminals among our people, but there are also criminals among the Beroms and Mwaghavuls who have militia gangs,” he said.
He urged the media to provide balanced reporting on violence in Plateau State instead of exclusively linking every attack to Fulani herders.
“We have also been victims, but no one cares to report those incidents because of the hatred they have against us,” he concluded.
