18-Year-Old Herder Killed in Bassa, Suspected Irigwe Assailants Blamed

18-Year-Old Herder Killed in Bassa, Suspected Irigwe Assailants Blamed

By Zagazola Makama

An 18-year-old herder, identified as Sani Ibrahim, has been killed while grazing livestock around Merimeli Village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, with suspected Irigwe assailants blamed for the attack.

The incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, around the Kwachudu/Jebbu Miango axis.

A military source told Zagazola Makama that troops of Sector 3, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), deployed at Jebbu Miango, responded to a report of an attack and killing of a herder while he was grazing around Merimeli Village.

Upon arrival at the scene, the troops found Ibrahim’s lifeless body bearing gunshot wounds and machete cuts, suggesting that the victim had been attacked with both firearms and a sharp weapon.

The assailants had fled the area before the arrival of the troops.

Other herders who were in the company of the deceased reportedly escaped unharmed during the attack.

While preliminary accounts from the area pointed to suspected Irigwe elements as being responsible, the military sources said the identities and motives of the attackers had not been conclusively established, with investigation ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the killing.

The deceased’s remains were recovered from the scene and subsequently taken for burial by his family members.

Following the incident, troops intensified fighting patrols around the general area to prevent further attacks and deter possible reprisal violence.

The killing comes amid longstanding tensions between farming and herding communities in parts of Plateau State, where isolated attacks have continued to pose security challenges and threaten fragile peace in affected communities.

18-Year-Old Herder Killed in Bassa, Suspected Irigwe Assailants Blamed